In response to media enquiries on press reports claiming that an ICAC investigator or a number of ICAC junior investigators were on the borrowers' list of a loansharking syndicate crushed by the Police yesterday, the ICAC issues the following statement:

"The Police has officially informed us that the name of an ICAC staff was found on the clients' list recovered in their operation against a loansharking syndicate.

The ICAC subsequently confirmed that it was a former civilian staff of the ICAC, namely a former Clerical Assistant (CA), who left the Commission in October last year after his contract was resolved in the wake of an ICAC internal investigation. The inter nal investigation revealed that the former CA was heavily indebted.

The ICAC attaches extreme importance to a high standard of conduct of its staff. All ICAC staff are reminded from time to time, through circulation of Commission circulars, to maintain a high standard of conduct and discipline and to properly manage thei r personal finance at all time. They are also advised to seek advice and assistance at an early stage if they find themselves in any financial difficulties, and warned that heavy indebtedness may lead to disciplinary action.”