Flight attendant jailed for one year for accepting advantages in ticket nominations
2001-11-20
A flight attendant of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (Cathay Pacific) was today (Tuesday) sentenced to one year's imprisonment at Eastern Court for accepting $30,000 in return for nominating a friend to obtain concessional air tickets.
Lai Chin-pang, 27, was today found guilty of two counts of accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Robert McNair said an immediate custodial sentence was called for in view of the seriousness of the bribery offences committed.
The court heard that Lai, being an employee of Cathay Pacific, was entitled to nominate a "travel companion" each year.
Under the "Travel Companion" scheme, the nominee could purchase air tickets for Cathay Pacific flights at concessional rate up to 90 per cent of the full fare.
According to the policy of Cathay Pacific, no employees shall receive advantages from their "travel companions" for the nominations.
On November 26, 1999, Lai nominated Tse Man-yee as his "travel companion" for the year 2000 at her request.
Lai received $15,000 from Tse as a reward for nominating her and issuing concessional tickets to her.
Between April 20 and December 5, 2000, Tse travelled on Cathay Pacific flights using the concessional tickets issued to her on six occasions. The total discounted fare was $70,070.
On December 24, 2000, Lai nominated Tse as his "travel companion" for the year 2001.
Lai subsequently received another reward of $15,000 from Tse for the same reason.
The prosecution was today represented by Richard Donald on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Venus Shum.
Lai Chin-pang, 27, was today found guilty of two counts of accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Robert McNair said an immediate custodial sentence was called for in view of the seriousness of the bribery offences committed.
The court heard that Lai, being an employee of Cathay Pacific, was entitled to nominate a "travel companion" each year.
Under the "Travel Companion" scheme, the nominee could purchase air tickets for Cathay Pacific flights at concessional rate up to 90 per cent of the full fare.
According to the policy of Cathay Pacific, no employees shall receive advantages from their "travel companions" for the nominations.
On November 26, 1999, Lai nominated Tse Man-yee as his "travel companion" for the year 2000 at her request.
Lai received $15,000 from Tse as a reward for nominating her and issuing concessional tickets to her.
Between April 20 and December 5, 2000, Tse travelled on Cathay Pacific flights using the concessional tickets issued to her on six occasions. The total discounted fare was $70,070.
On December 24, 2000, Lai nominated Tse as his "travel companion" for the year 2001.
Lai subsequently received another reward of $15,000 from Tse for the same reason.
The prosecution was today represented by Richard Donald on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Venus Shum.