Ex-HKJC part-time branch supervisor admits accepting ‘laisees’ from customer
2020-10-16
A former part-time branch supervisor of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), charged by the ICAC, admitted at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (October 16) that he had accepted nine “laisee” packets totalling about $3,600 from a customer for providing services to the latter.
Kenny Leung Wai-hung, 58, pleaded guilty to nine counts of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Ms Wong Sze-lai adjourned the case to November 6 for sentence, pending a community service order report. The defendant was granted cash bail.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was employed by the HKJC as a part-time branch supervisor posted to an off-course betting branch in Tsuen Wan. He was responsible for supervising teammates to provide services to customers, handling customer enquiries, and assisting customers to use betting facilities.
A customer who often patronised the aforesaid branch had on a number of occasions sought assistance from HKJC staff members in operating self-vending terminals for placing bets and collecting dividends for winning bets.
The court heard that between mid-2017 and 2018, the defendant accepted eight “laisee” packets of about $200 each from the aforesaid customer after he assisted the customer in operating the self-vending terminals.
On an occasion during Chinese New Year in February 2018, the defendant accepted another “laisee” packet of about $2,000 from the customer.
The court heard that the defendant understood that the nine “laisee” packets were given by the customer with an aim to obtain better customer service at the branch.
HKJC employees were not allowed to accept any advantages, including “laisee” packets, from customers without any written permission given by the HKJC management in accordance with its code of conduct.
The HKJC earlier referred a corruption complaint to the ICAC and rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Cyrus Chan.
Kenny Leung Wai-hung, 58, pleaded guilty to nine counts of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Ms Wong Sze-lai adjourned the case to November 6 for sentence, pending a community service order report. The defendant was granted cash bail.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was employed by the HKJC as a part-time branch supervisor posted to an off-course betting branch in Tsuen Wan. He was responsible for supervising teammates to provide services to customers, handling customer enquiries, and assisting customers to use betting facilities.
A customer who often patronised the aforesaid branch had on a number of occasions sought assistance from HKJC staff members in operating self-vending terminals for placing bets and collecting dividends for winning bets.
The court heard that between mid-2017 and 2018, the defendant accepted eight “laisee” packets of about $200 each from the aforesaid customer after he assisted the customer in operating the self-vending terminals.
On an occasion during Chinese New Year in February 2018, the defendant accepted another “laisee” packet of about $2,000 from the customer.
The court heard that the defendant understood that the nine “laisee” packets were given by the customer with an aim to obtain better customer service at the branch.
HKJC employees were not allowed to accept any advantages, including “laisee” packets, from customers without any written permission given by the HKJC management in accordance with its code of conduct.
The HKJC earlier referred a corruption complaint to the ICAC and rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Cyrus Chan.