12 arrested for alleged bribery over garment inspection
2000-4-19
The ICAC has arrested seven quality control inspectors of a garment trading company for allegedly accepting about $500,000 in bribes over the past two years in return for lax inspection of garments supplied by manufacturers in Hong Kong and Macau.
Five garment manufacturers who allegedly offered the bribes have also been arrested in the same operation mounted on Monday (April 17).
The garment trading company, Otto International (HK) Limited (Otto), is a German firm dealing in the export of garments. It sources garments from suppliers of Hong Kong, Macau, the Mainland and other South East Asian countries.
The garments will be inspected by quality control inspectors of the company before being exported to overseas countries.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the arrested quality control inspectors had allegedly accepted bribes ranging from several thousand dollars to $20,000 a month from each garment supplier.
The alleged bribes were for the inspectors to assist in lax inspection, show favour in or speed up the inspection of garments supplied by manufacturers.
One of the arrested quality control inspectors, Shiu Wai-sang, was charged by the ICAC today. He was brought to Eastern Court to face a holding charge.
Shiu, 54, Senior Inspector/Quality Control of Otto, was alleged to have conspired with other employees of Otto to accept sums of money from certain garment suppliers as a reward for showing favour to the suppliers in relation to the inspection of their ga rments.
The alleged offence took place between January 1, 1998 and April 17, 2000.
No plea was taken. Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned the case until next Wednesday (April 26) for mention, and remanded the defendant in ICAC custody.
The remaining 11 arrestees have been released on bail, pending further enquiries.
Otto is rendering full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Danny Lo and Ellen Tong.
Five garment manufacturers who allegedly offered the bribes have also been arrested in the same operation mounted on Monday (April 17).
The garment trading company, Otto International (HK) Limited (Otto), is a German firm dealing in the export of garments. It sources garments from suppliers of Hong Kong, Macau, the Mainland and other South East Asian countries.
The garments will be inspected by quality control inspectors of the company before being exported to overseas countries.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the arrested quality control inspectors had allegedly accepted bribes ranging from several thousand dollars to $20,000 a month from each garment supplier.
The alleged bribes were for the inspectors to assist in lax inspection, show favour in or speed up the inspection of garments supplied by manufacturers.
One of the arrested quality control inspectors, Shiu Wai-sang, was charged by the ICAC today. He was brought to Eastern Court to face a holding charge.
Shiu, 54, Senior Inspector/Quality Control of Otto, was alleged to have conspired with other employees of Otto to accept sums of money from certain garment suppliers as a reward for showing favour to the suppliers in relation to the inspection of their ga rments.
The alleged offence took place between January 1, 1998 and April 17, 2000.
No plea was taken. Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned the case until next Wednesday (April 26) for mention, and remanded the defendant in ICAC custody.
The remaining 11 arrestees have been released on bail, pending further enquiries.
Otto is rendering full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Danny Lo and Ellen Tong.