Estate agent charged by ICAC with accepting $50,000 bribe over property transaction
2021-9-28
The ICAC today (September 28) charged an estate agent with accepting a bribe of $50,000 from a subordinate for assisting the latter in a property transaction.
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 estate agent with one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Carrie Yeung Ka-lai, 45, senior branch manager of Centaline Property Agency Limited (Centaline Property), was released on ICAC bail, pending her appearance in the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (September 30) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was the senior branch manager of a branch of Centaline Property in Sai Kung. She was responsible for the overall management of the branch and supervising a team of estate agents.
Centaline Property prohibited its branch managers to solicit and accept advantages from their subordinate estate agents for assisting the latter in any property transaction.
The charge alleges that on or about September 18, 2019, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted $50,000 from a subordinate estate agent as an inducement to or reward for assisting the latter in the sale and purchase of a private residential property in Sai Kung.
ICAC enquiries revealed that on the same day, Centaline Property paid the subordinate estate agent over $120,000 as sales commission and the defendant over $40,000 as overriding commission for the aforesaid property transaction.
Centaline Property has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
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 estate agent with one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Carrie Yeung Ka-lai, 45, senior branch manager of Centaline Property Agency Limited (Centaline Property), was released on ICAC bail, pending her appearance in the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (September 30) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was the senior branch manager of a branch of Centaline Property in Sai Kung. She was responsible for the overall management of the branch and supervising a team of estate agents.
Centaline Property prohibited its branch managers to solicit and accept advantages from their subordinate estate agents for assisting the latter in any property transaction.
The charge alleges that on or about September 18, 2019, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted $50,000 from a subordinate estate agent as an inducement to or reward for assisting the latter in the sale and purchase of a private residential property in Sai Kung.
ICAC enquiries revealed that on the same day, Centaline Property paid the subordinate estate agent over $120,000 as sales commission and the defendant over $40,000 as overriding commission for the aforesaid property transaction.
Centaline Property has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.