Ex-assistant general manager of newspaper company’s advertising department and two subordinates charged with bribery by ICAC
2023-3-30
A former assistant general manager of the advertising department of a newspaper company was charged by the ICAC today (March 30) for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes totalling over $120,000 from four subordinates, involving commissions payable to the subordinates for securing event sponsorships. Also charged in the case were two of the subordinates who offered bribes to the assistant general manager.
Daniel Wu Hang-chi, also known as Wu Che-hang, 42, former assistant general manager of the advertising department of Hong Kong Commercial Daily (HKCD); Lee Kwok-wai, 49, former sales representatives of HKCD; and Ngo Kam-fai, 43, sales representatives of HKCD, face a total of eight charges – three of conspiracy for an agent to solicit an advantage and five of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Sections 9(1)(a) and 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The three defendants were released on ICAC bail. They would appear at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (April 3), pending the prosecution’s application for transferring the case to the District Court.
At that time, Wu was the assistant general manager of the advertising department of HKCD. He was responsible for overseeing the operations of the department and supervising sales representatives, including Lee and Ngo. Sales representatives were responsible for sourcing sponsors for various events organised by HKCD and were entitled to 10 per cent of the sponsorships secured as commission.
Between November 2019 and November 2021, Lee, Ngo and another two sales representatives secured various sponsorships totalling over $3.5 million for four events.
It is alleged that Wu and Lee conspired together to solicit three bribes totalling about $35,000 from the above two sales representatives as a reward for Wu to assist the duo to obtain sponsorship for two of the events. The bribes were equivalent to 30 per cent of the commissions payable to the two sales representatives in relation to the events. They both rejected the two defendants’ requests.
In addition, Lee and Ngo allegedly offered four bribes totalling about $83,000 and a bribe of $5,000 to Wu respectively for assisting Lee and Ngo to obtain sponsorships for the aforementioned events.
HKCD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Daniel Wu Hang-chi, also known as Wu Che-hang, 42, former assistant general manager of the advertising department of Hong Kong Commercial Daily (HKCD); Lee Kwok-wai, 49, former sales representatives of HKCD; and Ngo Kam-fai, 43, sales representatives of HKCD, face a total of eight charges – three of conspiracy for an agent to solicit an advantage and five of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Sections 9(1)(a) and 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The three defendants were released on ICAC bail. They would appear at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (April 3), pending the prosecution’s application for transferring the case to the District Court.
At that time, Wu was the assistant general manager of the advertising department of HKCD. He was responsible for overseeing the operations of the department and supervising sales representatives, including Lee and Ngo. Sales representatives were responsible for sourcing sponsors for various events organised by HKCD and were entitled to 10 per cent of the sponsorships secured as commission.
Between November 2019 and November 2021, Lee, Ngo and another two sales representatives secured various sponsorships totalling over $3.5 million for four events.
It is alleged that Wu and Lee conspired together to solicit three bribes totalling about $35,000 from the above two sales representatives as a reward for Wu to assist the duo to obtain sponsorship for two of the events. The bribes were equivalent to 30 per cent of the commissions payable to the two sales representatives in relation to the events. They both rejected the two defendants’ requests.
In addition, Lee and Ngo allegedly offered four bribes totalling about $83,000 and a bribe of $5,000 to Wu respectively for assisting Lee and Ngo to obtain sponsorships for the aforementioned events.
HKCD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.