Nineteen netted in ICAC probe for alleged corruption and fraud over tourism survey
2002-7-9
Nineteen people were arrested by the ICAC for allegedly conspiring to deceive a market research company by corruptly falsifying interview records and questionnaires for a survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
The arrestees, including a field manager and a field supervisor of a market research company, and 17 temporary interviewers employed by the company for the project, were netted in an operation code-named "Candlelight" commencing last Thursday (July 4) and continuing over the weekend.
Seventy-four temporary interviewers were recruited by the research company to interview tourists and complete the relevant questionnaires.
The ICAC earlier received a corruption complaint alleging that a manager of the research company might have been bribed for turning a blind eye to the submission of false questionnaires by some interviewers.
Investigations revealed that on various occasions during March and April this year, 17 of the interviewers submitted questionnaires to the research company while being absent from duty.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board and the research company had rendered full co-operation to the ICAC during its investigation.
The arrestees have all been released on ICAC bail. The ICAC's inquiries into the corruption allegation continue.
The arrestees, including a field manager and a field supervisor of a market research company, and 17 temporary interviewers employed by the company for the project, were netted in an operation code-named "Candlelight" commencing last Thursday (July 4) and continuing over the weekend.
Seventy-four temporary interviewers were recruited by the research company to interview tourists and complete the relevant questionnaires.
The ICAC earlier received a corruption complaint alleging that a manager of the research company might have been bribed for turning a blind eye to the submission of false questionnaires by some interviewers.
Investigations revealed that on various occasions during March and April this year, 17 of the interviewers submitted questionnaires to the research company while being absent from duty.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board and the research company had rendered full co-operation to the ICAC during its investigation.
The arrestees have all been released on ICAC bail. The ICAC's inquiries into the corruption allegation continue.