Duo in bribes-for-jobseekers’ information scam jailed
2015-9-29
Two former employees of two recruitment agencies, who were charged by the ICAC, were today (Tuesday) each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for their roles in a $37,000 bribes-for-jobseekers’ information scam.
Hang Ning, 37, a former principal consultant of Global Executive Consultants Limited (GECL), and Chau Ka-yin, 34, a former consultant of GS Consultants Limited (GSCL), were earlier found guilty of four joint charges of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Hang was also ordered by Magistrate Lee Siu-ho to pay $37,480 as restitution to GECL.
Upon the defendants’ applications, the magistrate granted them cash bail of $30,000 each, pending their appeals. They were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The court heard that at the material time, Hang was a principal consultant of GECL, a recruitment agency providing head-hunting services for corporations and job referral services for job candidates.
Chau came to know Hang when she was employed by GECL as a principal consultant between December 2009 and July 2012. In April 2013, Chau joined GSCL, another recruitment agency engaged by Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited (Citibank) to provide the bank with head-hunting services.
The court heard that between March 14 and July 11, 2013, five job candidates engaged GECL to seek jobs and passed their curriculum vitae to Hang.
The personal particulars of those candidates could be found in the database of GECL, but they were approached by Chau in the capacity of an agent of GSCL between May and June 2013.
Chau offered to refer those candidates to Citibank, and arranged for them to attend job interviews with the bank. The candidates were eventually employed by the bank as its staff.
As a result of these referrals, GSCL received service fees totalling $125,100 from Citibank. Out of these service fees, $37,480 were deposited by Chau into the account of Hang, the court was told.
GECL and Citibank had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Fong, assisted by ICAC officer Alex Yam.
Hang Ning, 37, a former principal consultant of Global Executive Consultants Limited (GECL), and Chau Ka-yin, 34, a former consultant of GS Consultants Limited (GSCL), were earlier found guilty of four joint charges of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Hang was also ordered by Magistrate Lee Siu-ho to pay $37,480 as restitution to GECL.
Upon the defendants’ applications, the magistrate granted them cash bail of $30,000 each, pending their appeals. They were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The court heard that at the material time, Hang was a principal consultant of GECL, a recruitment agency providing head-hunting services for corporations and job referral services for job candidates.
Chau came to know Hang when she was employed by GECL as a principal consultant between December 2009 and July 2012. In April 2013, Chau joined GSCL, another recruitment agency engaged by Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited (Citibank) to provide the bank with head-hunting services.
The court heard that between March 14 and July 11, 2013, five job candidates engaged GECL to seek jobs and passed their curriculum vitae to Hang.
The personal particulars of those candidates could be found in the database of GECL, but they were approached by Chau in the capacity of an agent of GSCL between May and June 2013.
Chau offered to refer those candidates to Citibank, and arranged for them to attend job interviews with the bank. The candidates were eventually employed by the bank as its staff.
As a result of these referrals, GSCL received service fees totalling $125,100 from Citibank. Out of these service fees, $37,480 were deposited by Chau into the account of Hang, the court was told.
GECL and Citibank had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Fong, assisted by ICAC officer Alex Yam.