ICAC sharpens professional edges to combat increasingly complex corruption cases
2004-3-6
The Independent Commission Against Corruption takes on a proactive strategy and will continue to enhance professionalism in combating corruption which has become increasingly clandestine, complex and transnational, ICAC Commissioner Raymond Wong Hung-chiu remarked.
In his latest Commissioner Online column on the ICAC website today (Saturday), Mr Wong noted that in recent years, there were a number of graft facilitated complex commercial frauds, money-laundering and smuggling cases involving billions of dollars.
Meanwhile, he added that the profile of criminals had also changed with time. About 70 per cent of those prosecuted in private sector cases last year were of managerial grade or professionals.
In the article entitled “ Three decades of anti-graft battle bears fruit ”, Mr Wong said, to meet the new challenges, the Commission would upgrade the professional edges of its graft busters, including investigative techniques, management skills and computer forensics knowledge through continuous training.
“Our investigators in the Financial Investigation (FIS) and Computer Forensics sections are now qualified to stand as expert witnesses in court, boosting our capability in dealing with cases involving complex financial enquiries and information technology, ” said Mr Wong.
In the past three years, the FIS had analysed over $20 billion worth of business transactions in connection with investigations.
On the prevention and education front, the Commission will provide expeditious input to plug corruption loopholes exposed and step up education efforts in vulnerable areas or trades.
In reviewing ICAC’s 30 years of work, Mr Wong stressed that in order to gain continued support from the public, the Commission must continue to discharge its duties impartially, and to exercise its power with prudence.
The article also revealed that according to the latest ICAC Annual Survey conducted in late 2003, 99 per cent of the respondents supported the ICAC while close to 80 percent believed the ICAC was given appropriate powers.
After three decades of hard work, Mr Wong said that the ICAC has succeeded in turning the tide and inculcating a culture of probity in the community.
“Today, we can hardly come across civil servants blatantly soliciting ‘'91tea money’ and government departments are taking a serious view against any ‘'91black sheep’,” said Mr Wong.
In the business sector, ‘'91doing business by the backdoor’ or ‘'91paying illegal kickbacks’ were no longer considered necessary ‘'91lubricants’ of the wheels of business, he continued.
The new Commissioner Online article has been uploaded onto the ICAC website ( http://www.icac.org.hk ) for public access.
In his latest Commissioner Online column on the ICAC website today (Saturday), Mr Wong noted that in recent years, there were a number of graft facilitated complex commercial frauds, money-laundering and smuggling cases involving billions of dollars.
Meanwhile, he added that the profile of criminals had also changed with time. About 70 per cent of those prosecuted in private sector cases last year were of managerial grade or professionals.
In the article entitled “ Three decades of anti-graft battle bears fruit ”, Mr Wong said, to meet the new challenges, the Commission would upgrade the professional edges of its graft busters, including investigative techniques, management skills and computer forensics knowledge through continuous training.
“Our investigators in the Financial Investigation (FIS) and Computer Forensics sections are now qualified to stand as expert witnesses in court, boosting our capability in dealing with cases involving complex financial enquiries and information technology, ” said Mr Wong.
In the past three years, the FIS had analysed over $20 billion worth of business transactions in connection with investigations.
On the prevention and education front, the Commission will provide expeditious input to plug corruption loopholes exposed and step up education efforts in vulnerable areas or trades.
In reviewing ICAC’s 30 years of work, Mr Wong stressed that in order to gain continued support from the public, the Commission must continue to discharge its duties impartially, and to exercise its power with prudence.
The article also revealed that according to the latest ICAC Annual Survey conducted in late 2003, 99 per cent of the respondents supported the ICAC while close to 80 percent believed the ICAC was given appropriate powers.
After three decades of hard work, Mr Wong said that the ICAC has succeeded in turning the tide and inculcating a culture of probity in the community.
“Today, we can hardly come across civil servants blatantly soliciting ‘'91tea money’ and government departments are taking a serious view against any ‘'91black sheep’,” said Mr Wong.
In the business sector, ‘'91doing business by the backdoor’ or ‘'91paying illegal kickbacks’ were no longer considered necessary ‘'91lubricants’ of the wheels of business, he continued.
The new Commissioner Online article has been uploaded onto the ICAC website ( http://www.icac.org.hk ) for public access.