Police officers netted over alleged connection with bookmaking
2000-6-22
A total of 16 persons, including serving and retired senior police officers and rank-and-file officers, were arrested in Hong Kong during an operation jointly waged by the ICAC and its Macau counterparts beginning yesterday (Wednesday) night.
A number of illegal horse bookmaking syndicates in both places were smashed. Some of the syndicates operated in Hong Kong were allegedly operated and protected by serving and former police officers.
The arrestees netted in the territory-wide operation code- named “ Spotted Leopard ” included a serving and a former Senior Superintendent, a serving Detective Senior Police Constable, a former Detective Sergeant, a television artiste, two horse owners, a serving and a former bank employees, and seven civilians.
The ICAC commenced investigations after receiving corruption reports in February this year alleging some police officers were protecting illegal bookmaking activities.
Since investigations revealed that a number of bookmaking syndicates in Hong Kong and in Macau were closely associated, simultaneous operations were mounted by the two authorities.
In Hong Kong, 150 ICAC officers were deployed last night to raid three premises suspected to be illegal bookmaking dens, while 25 other premises were searched. Off-course betting slips totaling $4 million were seized from the bookmaking dens.
Three men, including a serving Senior Superintendent who was suspected to be the operator, were arrested in a premise in Homantin where illegal bookmaking activities were taking place.
ICAC investigations revealed that the arrested former Senior Superintendent had allegedly been placing bets with a number of illegal bookmakers while serving in the police force, one of whom allegedly operated an illegal den in Macau which received bets o n Hong Kong horse races.
It was alleged that the former Senior Superintendent had placed his bets through a Detective Police Sergeant. Both of them had recently resigned from the Police Force.
Investigations further revealed that the former Senior Superintendent was alleged to have possessed unexplained wealth, contrary to Section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
And one of the arrested horseowners was suspected to be at the centre of another bookmaking den, had allegedly offered bribes to an employee of a bank to obtain a $15 million loan.
Of the 16 arrestees, including 13 men and three women aged between 25 to 60, five have been released on ICAC bail while the remaining are still being detained by the ICAC for further enquiries.
Meanwhile, an ICAC spokesman noted that the joint operation, the first of such magnitude since Macau ’ s reunification with China in December 1999, was a success and heralded closer co-operation between the two anti-corruption agencies in future.
A number of illegal horse bookmaking syndicates in both places were smashed. Some of the syndicates operated in Hong Kong were allegedly operated and protected by serving and former police officers.
The arrestees netted in the territory-wide operation code- named “ Spotted Leopard ” included a serving and a former Senior Superintendent, a serving Detective Senior Police Constable, a former Detective Sergeant, a television artiste, two horse owners, a serving and a former bank employees, and seven civilians.
The ICAC commenced investigations after receiving corruption reports in February this year alleging some police officers were protecting illegal bookmaking activities.
Since investigations revealed that a number of bookmaking syndicates in Hong Kong and in Macau were closely associated, simultaneous operations were mounted by the two authorities.
In Hong Kong, 150 ICAC officers were deployed last night to raid three premises suspected to be illegal bookmaking dens, while 25 other premises were searched. Off-course betting slips totaling $4 million were seized from the bookmaking dens.
Three men, including a serving Senior Superintendent who was suspected to be the operator, were arrested in a premise in Homantin where illegal bookmaking activities were taking place.
ICAC investigations revealed that the arrested former Senior Superintendent had allegedly been placing bets with a number of illegal bookmakers while serving in the police force, one of whom allegedly operated an illegal den in Macau which received bets o n Hong Kong horse races.
It was alleged that the former Senior Superintendent had placed his bets through a Detective Police Sergeant. Both of them had recently resigned from the Police Force.
Investigations further revealed that the former Senior Superintendent was alleged to have possessed unexplained wealth, contrary to Section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
And one of the arrested horseowners was suspected to be at the centre of another bookmaking den, had allegedly offered bribes to an employee of a bank to obtain a $15 million loan.
Of the 16 arrestees, including 13 men and three women aged between 25 to 60, five have been released on ICAC bail while the remaining are still being detained by the ICAC for further enquiries.
Meanwhile, an ICAC spokesman noted that the joint operation, the first of such magnitude since Macau ’ s reunification with China in December 1999, was a success and heralded closer co-operation between the two anti-corruption agencies in future.