One year's jail for Administrative Officer soliciting bribes over investment referrals
2002-3-13
A Government Administrative Officer was today (Wednesday) jailed for one year at District Court for soliciting bribes to divulge government officers' particulars to two investment consultants.
In meting out sentence to Alexander Chow Kai-shun, Judge Derek Pang said immediate custody was warranted, as the defendant had abused his position and breached the trust the public placed in a public servant.
Chow, 33, charged by the ICAC, was found guilty on two counts of soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The charges stated that Chow had solicited from investment consultants Peggy Tam Mei-woon and Chan Koon-har advantages for providing them with documentation and information acquired in the course of or from his employment in the then Trade and Industry Bu reau (TIB) to assist them in selling investment products and services.
The advantages solicited were calculated at 50 percent of the commissions paid to the consultants by their companies whose products they were selling.
The offences took place between November and December in 1999 when Chow was an Assistant Secretary of TIB.
The court heard that before joining the Government in September 1999, Chow came to know Tam and Chan when he was working as a financial adviser.
In about mid November 1999, Chow approached Tam and told her he had access to the department's confidential information, including the personal particulars and curricula vitae of some government officers, which would be useful to her business.
Chow also claimed that he could make use of his position to gather information about traders and merchants.
Chow then demanded to share 50 percent of Tam's commission for every successful business deal as a result of his referral, and suggested Tam to deposit the money into his girlfriend's bank account to "avoid troubles".
On another occasion between November and December 1999, Chow made a similar offer to Chan.
In late December 1999, Chow introduced to Chan a woman, who subsequently purchased from her three investment plans.
Chow chased up Chan for his share of the commissions, and Chan deposited $3,540 into his bank account on May 4, 2000.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Kevin Zervos, assisted by ICAC officer Rebecca Li.
In meting out sentence to Alexander Chow Kai-shun, Judge Derek Pang said immediate custody was warranted, as the defendant had abused his position and breached the trust the public placed in a public servant.
Chow, 33, charged by the ICAC, was found guilty on two counts of soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The charges stated that Chow had solicited from investment consultants Peggy Tam Mei-woon and Chan Koon-har advantages for providing them with documentation and information acquired in the course of or from his employment in the then Trade and Industry Bu reau (TIB) to assist them in selling investment products and services.
The advantages solicited were calculated at 50 percent of the commissions paid to the consultants by their companies whose products they were selling.
The offences took place between November and December in 1999 when Chow was an Assistant Secretary of TIB.
The court heard that before joining the Government in September 1999, Chow came to know Tam and Chan when he was working as a financial adviser.
In about mid November 1999, Chow approached Tam and told her he had access to the department's confidential information, including the personal particulars and curricula vitae of some government officers, which would be useful to her business.
Chow also claimed that he could make use of his position to gather information about traders and merchants.
Chow then demanded to share 50 percent of Tam's commission for every successful business deal as a result of his referral, and suggested Tam to deposit the money into his girlfriend's bank account to "avoid troubles".
On another occasion between November and December 1999, Chow made a similar offer to Chan.
In late December 1999, Chow introduced to Chan a woman, who subsequently purchased from her three investment plans.
Chow chased up Chan for his share of the commissions, and Chan deposited $3,540 into his bank account on May 4, 2000.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Kevin Zervos, assisted by ICAC officer Rebecca Li.