Government recovers $13m from estate of former policeman previously under ICAC investigation
2000-12-22
The Hong Kong Government has recovered $13 million in cash from the estate of former police sergeant Ma Man-leung following civil proceedings instituted by the Department of Justice on behalf of the ICAC.
Ma was previously under ICAC investigation for a suspected offence of possessing disproportionate assets, contrary to Section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO). He was arrested by the ICAC in 1977.
Ma had been serving in the Police Force for 23 years before his arrest. While he received official income of $144,266 in total during his employment with the Force, he was in control of assets valued exceeding $400,000 as at June 30, 1973.
He was released on bail and, while the investigation was continuing, absconded to Taiwan in May 1977 and died there in 1990.
The Department of Justice initiated civil proceedings in 1993 against Ma's estate to recover assets in Ma's control, which were restrained by the ICAC under the PBO.
The Department and the personal representative of Ma's estate reached a settlement in 1997 before Judge Findley at the High Court, whereby the latter would pay to the Hong Kong Government a total of $10,320,000 plus interests.
In or about the same time, the Government recovered $2.52 million cash from an associate of Ma.
An ICAC spokesman said : “This case demonstrates the ICAC's unrelenting determination to pursue corruption and to recover ill-gotten gains through legitimate channels.
“No matter how long it takes, the ICAC will spare no effort in fighting corruption.”
Ma was previously under ICAC investigation for a suspected offence of possessing disproportionate assets, contrary to Section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO). He was arrested by the ICAC in 1977.
Ma had been serving in the Police Force for 23 years before his arrest. While he received official income of $144,266 in total during his employment with the Force, he was in control of assets valued exceeding $400,000 as at June 30, 1973.
He was released on bail and, while the investigation was continuing, absconded to Taiwan in May 1977 and died there in 1990.
The Department of Justice initiated civil proceedings in 1993 against Ma's estate to recover assets in Ma's control, which were restrained by the ICAC under the PBO.
The Department and the personal representative of Ma's estate reached a settlement in 1997 before Judge Findley at the High Court, whereby the latter would pay to the Hong Kong Government a total of $10,320,000 plus interests.
In or about the same time, the Government recovered $2.52 million cash from an associate of Ma.
An ICAC spokesman said : “This case demonstrates the ICAC's unrelenting determination to pursue corruption and to recover ill-gotten gains through legitimate channels.
“No matter how long it takes, the ICAC will spare no effort in fighting corruption.”