Police Sergeant charged with accepting $500,000 bribe over triad’s debt collection information
2021-6-30
The ICAC today (June 30) charged a Police Sergeant with accepting a bribe of $500,000 in relation to information reported to the Police regarding a debt collection matter involving a triad society.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon legal advice sought from the Department of Justice, Li Hung-fat, 51, Police Sergeant, was charged with one count of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
The defendant also faces an alternative charge of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the POBO. He will appear in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (July 2) for mention.
At the material time, the defendant was a Police Sergeant posted to a District Investigation Team of the Eastern District. In February 2019, a relative of the defendant introduced to him a businessman whose family member received a dunning letter after the businessman had some financial disputes with a person.
The charge alleges that on July 5, 2019, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted from the relative a sum of $500,000 as an inducement to or reward for reporting through the Information Report Form Management System of the Police information regarding a debt collection matter involving a triad society.
The alternative charge alleges that on the same day, the defendant, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, accepted from the relative the aforesaid sum of $500,000.
The Police has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Friday.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon legal advice sought from the Department of Justice, Li Hung-fat, 51, Police Sergeant, was charged with one count of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
The defendant also faces an alternative charge of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the POBO. He will appear in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (July 2) for mention.
At the material time, the defendant was a Police Sergeant posted to a District Investigation Team of the Eastern District. In February 2019, a relative of the defendant introduced to him a businessman whose family member received a dunning letter after the businessman had some financial disputes with a person.
The charge alleges that on July 5, 2019, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted from the relative a sum of $500,000 as an inducement to or reward for reporting through the Information Report Form Management System of the Police information regarding a debt collection matter involving a triad society.
The alternative charge alleges that on the same day, the defendant, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, accepted from the relative the aforesaid sum of $500,000.
The Police has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Friday.