The ICAC has arrested four persons, including two directors of an electrical company, for alleged conspiracy to defraud over the supply of counterfeit lamp poles to government departments and public bodies.

Also arrested in the operation codenamed " Hsiangyang ", commencing on Wednesday, were a transportation company proprietor and a factory operator.

The ICAC operation arose from a corruption inquiry in relation to alleged offering and accepting of illegal rebates.

The electrical company is a supplier of lamp poles for a number of projects throughout the territory.

It was alleged that the arrested directors had supplied about 400 lamp poles, purported to be of a South African brand, for installation at various sites of two government departments and two public bodies.

ICAC inquiries revealed that the South African manufacturer had ceased to operate since January 2001, and that the lamp poles supplied to the projects were in fact manufactured by other unauthorized factories in South Africa and the Mainland.

The arrestees were also suspected to have submitted bogus certificates and shipping documents in relation to the counterfeit lamp poles to the relevant government departments.

The arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Inquiries into the corruption allegation are continuing.