In response to press enquiries, an ICAC spokesman confirmed that six persons, including two assistant supervisors and a driver of the Salvation Army (SA), have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a corruption scam to trade bulks of clothes dona ted by the public for personal gains.

Also netted in the operation, code-named "Meishan" , were a businessman and two relatives of one of the assistant supervisors.

It was believed that in the past six months, the assistant supervisors had sold bulk of clothes, a majority of which were stolen from SA, for about $180,000.

Under SA's Recycling Programme, SA operates various collection points throughout the territory, where the public could make voluntary donations of clothes.

Clothes deposited at the collection points would be transported to a SA warehouse before they were further categorized for sale at SA discounted shops. Income derived from the sales is used for charity.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was alleged that the two SA assistant supervisors might have obtained the corrupt assistance from a driver to transfer donated clothes from the collection points to another go-down, instead of t he SA warehouse.

Investigation revealed that the SA supervisors allegedly arranged for "buyers" to pick up the stolen clothes from the go-down, which was operated by a recycling company allegedly set up by the supervisors and their associates.

It was believed that the stolen clothes were sold to "buyers" at about $3.3 per kilogramme.

The SA management rendered full co-operation to the ICAC during its investigation.

The arrestees have been released on ICAC bail, pending further inquiries.