An Assistant Officer II of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to four years' imprisonment at District Court for bringing unauthorised articles, including about 2,000 tablets of soft drugs, into S tanley Prison for bribes.

Mak Wing-wa, 28, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, one of conspiracy to traffic in a dangerous drug, and one of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

In sentencing, Deputy Judge Andrew Chan said a deterrent sentence must be imposed as the defendant had committed serious bribery and drug trafficking offences.

The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by CSD. The department had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.

The court heard that between August 2003 and January last year, Mak had conspired with Chan Yee-lap, then an inmate at Stanley Prison, to accept a total of about $60,000 from Chan.

The bribes were rewards for Mak to introduce about 1,000 and 996 tablets of Midazolam respectively in November 2003 and January last year into the prison for Chan.

Mak had also corruptly provided Chan with other unauthorised articles, including cigarettes, as well as newspaper cuttings containing information on horse racing and soccer betting.

Chan, 34, who was also charged in connection with the case, failed to attend court. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Chan or any other information which may lead to his arrest is urged to contact the ICAC on its 24-hour hotline 2526 6366. Information received will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Kelvin Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Gary Wong.