A former property agent was today (Thursday) sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment for soliciting and accepting illegal commission from a client over two property transactions in Happy Valley and North Point.

Cheng Chin-to, 41, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting and one of accepting advantages under Section 9 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance before District Court Judge Eddie Yip.

The charges stated that Cheng accepted $50,000 from Law Lai-hing, Lana, as a reward for assisting Law in the purchase of a property at Beverly Hill, Broadwood Road, and solicited $50,000 from her over the purchase of another property at Tempo Court, Braem ar Hill Road.

The court heard that Cheng was respectively employed by Fortune Realty Company Limited (Fortune Realty) when the accepting offence took place on July 14, 1998, and Midland Realty (Strategic) Limited (Midland Realty) when the soliciting offence occurred on October 26, 1998.

On both occasions, Cheng claimed that he had helped negotiate for a lower purchase price for Law, and demanded "tea money".

Both Fortune Realty and Midland Realty confirmed that they did not allow their employees to solicit or accept illegal commission.

The prosecution was today represented by John Marray on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Goretti Lau.