ICAC handles more complex corruption related cases this year
2000-12-5
The Independent Commission Against Commission (ICAC) has instituted a total of 233 prosecutions in the first ten months of this year, representing a 21% rise over the 192 cases prosecuted the same period last year.
The number of cases tried at the District Court and the High Court in the first ten months of this year also registered a 44% surge, which reflects the increasingly complex nature of corruption related cases handled by the ICAC.
The figures were released at a joint media briefing held today by the chairmen of ICAC’s four advisory committees, which monitor various aspects of the Commission’s work.
Today’s annual briefing was jointly hosted by Dr Raymond Ch’ien Kuo-fung, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC); Ms Anna Wu Hung-yuk, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC); Mr Cheng Yan-kee, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC); and Professor Cheng Kai-ming, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).
Also released at the briefing were the latest corruption report figures. In the first 11 months of this year, the Commission received a total of 4,009 corruption complaints, which represents a 24% rise over the same period last year.
Amongst the complaints received this year, 1,583 and 2,190 were respectively against government departments and the private sector, while 236 alleged corruption related to public bodies.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s caseload as at end of October also rose 20% to 4,226, compared with 3,529 cases last year.
Ms Wu said the lingering effect of the financial crisis, media publicity on some high profile cases as well as the Commission’s proactive investigative strategy remained the major factors pushing up the number of complaints.
Heightened public awareness of corruption and a high degree of public confidence in ICAC’s effectiveness in combatting graft were the other factors, Ms Wu opined.
To cope with the heavy workload, Dr Ch’ien noted that the ICAC would formalise in 2001 the establishment of its Quick Response Team (QRT) which deals with cases capable of quick resolution.
This would release staff temporarily attached to QRT to return to their investigative groups to concentrate on more complex cases.
To improve its efficiency, the Commission has also upgraded its operational facilities, including information technology systems in case tracking and commanding field operation, and provided a networked computer station to each officer.
The Chairmen however expressed concerns over corruption in the construction industry, noting that excessive subcontracting and unhealthy relationship between some site staff and contractors could be possible causes for the malpractices.
In the first 10 months of this year, 33 persons were prosecuted for corruption and related offences connected with the construction industry. The number of corruption reports involving this sector also accounted for 11% of the total number of private sec tor complaints.
Mr Cheng Yan-kee told the briefing that the ICAC had completed a number of assignment studies relating to construction works.
Among other recommendations, the Commission has proposed that government departments should give due consideration to the works quality in the tendering of public construction projects, ensure effective site supervision and material testing, and avoid exc essive subcontracting by contractors.
The Chairmen also noted that the ICAC had been providing ethics training for all levels of personnel in the construction industry and encouraged tertiary institutions to incorporate ethics training in construction related courses.
Meanwhile, the building management sector was also an area of concern as the number of complaints against this sector continued to climb, the Chairmen noted.
Between January and October this year, 591 corruption complaints relating to building management were received - a 36% increase over the 436 reports registered for the same period in 1999.
Professor Cheng Kai-ming revealed at the briefing that a special task force comprising experienced staff from ICAC’s three departments would be set up to help owners’ corporations, property management companies and property owners to tackle problems from all fronts.
Similar task forces have already been formed for the construction, the banking industry and service providers of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes.
At today’s briefing, it was also disclosed that in the first ten months of this year, 238 civil servants had been recommended by the ORC for consideration of disciplinary or administrative action by government departments, while 197 civil servants were referred by the Committee during the same period last year.
Among this year’s referrals, 123 civil servants were involved in accepting unauthorised loans while 49 were alleged to have abused their authorities.
The remaining cases related to neglect of duty, malpractices over attendance or overtime claims, outside work without authorisation, acceptance of gifts, meals or entertainment and other misconduct.
The Chairmen also noted that the ICAC had approached 28 government departments to help them formulate tailor-made code of conduct and staff training programmes in the second phase of the two-year “Civil Service Integrity Programme”. The remaining 18 will be contacted in the coming months.
In the first phase of the programme, 21 departments had been contacted. Most of them had either reviewed their existing guidelines on staff integrity or were formulating new ones with ICAC’s assistance.
The number of cases tried at the District Court and the High Court in the first ten months of this year also registered a 44% surge, which reflects the increasingly complex nature of corruption related cases handled by the ICAC.
The figures were released at a joint media briefing held today by the chairmen of ICAC’s four advisory committees, which monitor various aspects of the Commission’s work.
Today’s annual briefing was jointly hosted by Dr Raymond Ch’ien Kuo-fung, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC); Ms Anna Wu Hung-yuk, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC); Mr Cheng Yan-kee, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC); and Professor Cheng Kai-ming, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).
Also released at the briefing were the latest corruption report figures. In the first 11 months of this year, the Commission received a total of 4,009 corruption complaints, which represents a 24% rise over the same period last year.
Amongst the complaints received this year, 1,583 and 2,190 were respectively against government departments and the private sector, while 236 alleged corruption related to public bodies.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s caseload as at end of October also rose 20% to 4,226, compared with 3,529 cases last year.
Ms Wu said the lingering effect of the financial crisis, media publicity on some high profile cases as well as the Commission’s proactive investigative strategy remained the major factors pushing up the number of complaints.
Heightened public awareness of corruption and a high degree of public confidence in ICAC’s effectiveness in combatting graft were the other factors, Ms Wu opined.
To cope with the heavy workload, Dr Ch’ien noted that the ICAC would formalise in 2001 the establishment of its Quick Response Team (QRT) which deals with cases capable of quick resolution.
This would release staff temporarily attached to QRT to return to their investigative groups to concentrate on more complex cases.
To improve its efficiency, the Commission has also upgraded its operational facilities, including information technology systems in case tracking and commanding field operation, and provided a networked computer station to each officer.
The Chairmen however expressed concerns over corruption in the construction industry, noting that excessive subcontracting and unhealthy relationship between some site staff and contractors could be possible causes for the malpractices.
In the first 10 months of this year, 33 persons were prosecuted for corruption and related offences connected with the construction industry. The number of corruption reports involving this sector also accounted for 11% of the total number of private sec tor complaints.
Mr Cheng Yan-kee told the briefing that the ICAC had completed a number of assignment studies relating to construction works.
Among other recommendations, the Commission has proposed that government departments should give due consideration to the works quality in the tendering of public construction projects, ensure effective site supervision and material testing, and avoid exc essive subcontracting by contractors.
The Chairmen also noted that the ICAC had been providing ethics training for all levels of personnel in the construction industry and encouraged tertiary institutions to incorporate ethics training in construction related courses.
Meanwhile, the building management sector was also an area of concern as the number of complaints against this sector continued to climb, the Chairmen noted.
Between January and October this year, 591 corruption complaints relating to building management were received - a 36% increase over the 436 reports registered for the same period in 1999.
Professor Cheng Kai-ming revealed at the briefing that a special task force comprising experienced staff from ICAC’s three departments would be set up to help owners’ corporations, property management companies and property owners to tackle problems from all fronts.
Similar task forces have already been formed for the construction, the banking industry and service providers of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes.
At today’s briefing, it was also disclosed that in the first ten months of this year, 238 civil servants had been recommended by the ORC for consideration of disciplinary or administrative action by government departments, while 197 civil servants were referred by the Committee during the same period last year.
Among this year’s referrals, 123 civil servants were involved in accepting unauthorised loans while 49 were alleged to have abused their authorities.
The remaining cases related to neglect of duty, malpractices over attendance or overtime claims, outside work without authorisation, acceptance of gifts, meals or entertainment and other misconduct.
The Chairmen also noted that the ICAC had approached 28 government departments to help them formulate tailor-made code of conduct and staff training programmes in the second phase of the two-year “Civil Service Integrity Programme”. The remaining 18 will be contacted in the coming months.
In the first phase of the programme, 21 departments had been contacted. Most of them had either reviewed their existing guidelines on staff integrity or were formulating new ones with ICAC’s assistance.