Duo charged as ICAC graft probe reveals illegal bookmaking on football and horse racing
2022-12-22
Two men were respectively charged by the ICAC yesterday (December 21) in separate cases with bookmaking and promoting bookmaking involving illegal bets placed on football matches and horse racing totalling over $3.4 million. The alleged offences were revealed in the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC.
Lai Kwok-piu, 56, faces two counts of bookmaking, contrary to section 7(1)(a) of the Gambling Ordinance; while Fung Chi-sing, 59, faces two counts of promoting or facilitating bookmaking or betting with a bookmaker, contrary to section 16B(1) of the Gambling Ordinance.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the duo with the aforementioned respective charges. The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 23) respectively for mention and plea in two separate cases.
Lai is alleged to have engaged in bookmaking between November 2016 and March 2020. ICAC enquiries revealed that Lai had allegedly run an illegal bookmaking business either singly or jointly with another person and received bets on football matches totalling over $3.4 million from at least eight punters.
It is alleged that between April and July 2017, and between February and March 2020, Fung promoted bookmaking by transmitting bets to a bookmaker. He had allegedly transmitted bets on horse racing totalling over $29,000 to a bookmaker for three punters.
Lai Kwok-piu, 56, faces two counts of bookmaking, contrary to section 7(1)(a) of the Gambling Ordinance; while Fung Chi-sing, 59, faces two counts of promoting or facilitating bookmaking or betting with a bookmaker, contrary to section 16B(1) of the Gambling Ordinance.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the duo with the aforementioned respective charges. The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 23) respectively for mention and plea in two separate cases.
Lai is alleged to have engaged in bookmaking between November 2016 and March 2020. ICAC enquiries revealed that Lai had allegedly run an illegal bookmaking business either singly or jointly with another person and received bets on football matches totalling over $3.4 million from at least eight punters.
It is alleged that between April and July 2017, and between February and March 2020, Fung promoted bookmaking by transmitting bets to a bookmaker. He had allegedly transmitted bets on horse racing totalling over $29,000 to a bookmaker for three punters.