ICAC smashes forged bus pass syndicate
2001-2-9
The ICAC has smashed a syndicate which allegedly manufactured and forged dependant travel passes of New World First Bus Services Limited (First Bus) for sale, and made over $300,000 in illegal profits.
The syndicate allegedly had the corrupt assistance of an employee of the bus company, while some staff members of a photo-finishing shop allegedly collected clients' particulars and photos for the syndicate.
Twenty persons, including the suspected syndicate head and a driver of First Bus, were arrested in an operation codenamed “ Curtain Swing ”, which commenced since last week.
The arrested driver was alleged to have provided the syndicate with a sample dependant travel pass to facilitate the forging of bus passes in return for monetary rewards.
The remaining 18 arrestees included 10 serving and two former employees of the photo-finishing shop, and six other civilians allegedly involved in the scam.
It was believed that most of them were either middlemen recruiting clients for the syndicate or clients themselves.
During the operation, a total of 56 forged First Bus passes were seized - 32 of them were for the year of 2000 while the remaining were for 2001.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that some employees of First Bus were corruptly involved in the issuing of bus passes.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the syndicate allegedly sold the forged passes, which were valid for one year, at $800-$1,800 each.
It was alleged that since 1999, the syndicate had manufactured and sold forged passes to at least 300 persons. The passes purportedly showed that their respective holders were the bus company's staff or their relatives, entitling them to free rides.
All the 20 arrestees - 14 men and six women - have been released on ICAC bail.
The management of First Bus and the photo-finishing shop have provided assistance in the investigation. Enquiries are continuing.
Any person who has information about the scam and corrupt arrangement is requested to contact the ICAC on 2526 6366.
The syndicate allegedly had the corrupt assistance of an employee of the bus company, while some staff members of a photo-finishing shop allegedly collected clients' particulars and photos for the syndicate.
Twenty persons, including the suspected syndicate head and a driver of First Bus, were arrested in an operation codenamed “ Curtain Swing ”, which commenced since last week.
The arrested driver was alleged to have provided the syndicate with a sample dependant travel pass to facilitate the forging of bus passes in return for monetary rewards.
The remaining 18 arrestees included 10 serving and two former employees of the photo-finishing shop, and six other civilians allegedly involved in the scam.
It was believed that most of them were either middlemen recruiting clients for the syndicate or clients themselves.
During the operation, a total of 56 forged First Bus passes were seized - 32 of them were for the year of 2000 while the remaining were for 2001.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that some employees of First Bus were corruptly involved in the issuing of bus passes.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the syndicate allegedly sold the forged passes, which were valid for one year, at $800-$1,800 each.
It was alleged that since 1999, the syndicate had manufactured and sold forged passes to at least 300 persons. The passes purportedly showed that their respective holders were the bus company's staff or their relatives, entitling them to free rides.
All the 20 arrestees - 14 men and six women - have been released on ICAC bail.
The management of First Bus and the photo-finishing shop have provided assistance in the investigation. Enquiries are continuing.
Any person who has information about the scam and corrupt arrangement is requested to contact the ICAC on 2526 6366.