Response Statement
2001-12-8
In response to press enquiries, an ICAC spokesman today (Saturday) confirmed that in a joint operation, the ICAC and the Police had arrested a total of 53 persons for their suspected involvement in a number of alleged “staged arrests” at an illegal gambling stall in Kwun Tong.
Amongst the arrested were 11 police officers attached to Kwun Tong Police Station - a Sergeant and 10 Police Constables - for suspected corruption and perversion of public justice in allegedly conniving at the arrests.
The remaining arrestees netted in the operation “ Violin ”, which commenced on Wednesday (December 5), were 11 alleged members of a street gambling syndicate, nine alleged “scapegoats” and 22 suspected gamblers.
The joint operation was triggered by corruption complaints, alleging that a street gambling stall was being run at a public housing estate in Kwun Tong with the protection of law enforcement officers.
The syndicate was believed to have been operating the illegal gambling stall since March this year, with daily turnover estimated at hundreds of thousand dollar.
Some people, who were neither operators nor gamblers, had allegedly offered themselves to the raiding police officers for arrest and were subsequently charged for street gambling offences, with the court fines allegedly reimbursed by the syndicate.
All the arrestees have been released on ICAC and Police bail, pending further investigation.
Enquiries are continuing, the ICAC spokesman said.
Amongst the arrested were 11 police officers attached to Kwun Tong Police Station - a Sergeant and 10 Police Constables - for suspected corruption and perversion of public justice in allegedly conniving at the arrests.
The remaining arrestees netted in the operation “ Violin ”, which commenced on Wednesday (December 5), were 11 alleged members of a street gambling syndicate, nine alleged “scapegoats” and 22 suspected gamblers.
The joint operation was triggered by corruption complaints, alleging that a street gambling stall was being run at a public housing estate in Kwun Tong with the protection of law enforcement officers.
The syndicate was believed to have been operating the illegal gambling stall since March this year, with daily turnover estimated at hundreds of thousand dollar.
Some people, who were neither operators nor gamblers, had allegedly offered themselves to the raiding police officers for arrest and were subsequently charged for street gambling offences, with the court fines allegedly reimbursed by the syndicate.
All the arrestees have been released on ICAC and Police bail, pending further investigation.
Enquiries are continuing, the ICAC spokesman said.