A businessman, who was charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) sentenced to five months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for offering a bribe to an officer of a bank to facilitate the deposit of a remittance.

Teo Eng-bock, 75, director and shareholder of Gold Power Enterprises Holdings Inc. (Gold Power), was earlier found guilty of one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Chu Chung-keung said the court attached importance to this serious bribery case.

The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was the director and shareholder of Gold Power. He was also the sole authorised signatory of a bank account that Gold Power opened at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).

On May 28 last year, the defendant visited the business centre of the HSBC Head Office in Central. He was received by an assistant vice president of HSBC in her office.

The defendant told the assistant vice president that he expected to receive a remittance of a substantial amount in the account of Gold Power, and that 75 per cent of the remittance would be withdrawn.

The court heard that the defendant undertook to give the assistant vice president a share of the remaining 25 per cent of the remittance if she agreed to offer assistance in facilitating the deposit.

The defendant also showed the assistant vice president a copy of a document that the value of a contract was 18 billion euros, and the defendant was a receiver entitling to four per cent of the contractual value. The assistant vice president declined the offer, the court was told.

HSBC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Fong, assisted by ICAC officer Chong Kwok-sum.