Ex-tobacco chief and two others face corruption and fraud charges over alleged cigarette smuggling
2005-1-18
The former chairman of a tobacco manufacturer and two other persons, charged by the ICAC for their alleged roles in cigarette smuggling activities, faced three amended charges when they appeared at the Eastern Magistracy this (Tuesday) morning.
No pleas were taken from Lu Dayong, 57, former chairman of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company Limited (Nanyang Brothers); Ko Kit, 36, director of Hang Chun Trade Development Limited (Hang Chun); and Chan Kai-san, 37, sales manager of Hang Chun.
Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned the case to January 25, 2005, pending transfer to the District Court. Lu was granted bail of $500,000 in cash, while Ko and Chan were respectively allowed cash bail of $700,000 and $150,000.
Lu, Ko and Chan were earlier laid a joint holding charge of conspiracy to deal with crime proceeds, under Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance. The holding charge was today replaced with two corruption and one fraud charges.
The defendants now faced one joint charge of conspiring together and with Lin Jianding and others for Lu to accept advantages from purchasers of cigarettes on the Mainland.
The alleged advantages were for Lu to permit Hang Chun to become a purchaser of "Double Happiness" cigarettes and/or supply those cigarettes to Hang Chun.
A second charge alleged the defendants of conspiring together and with Lin to defraud Nanyang Brothers by concealing from the latter that Lu had interests in Hang Chun.
The defendants were alleged to have caused Nanyang Brothers to supply "Double Happiness" cigarettes to Hang Chun, knowing that those cigarettes would be sold to the Mainland, in violation of the contracts between Nanyang Brothers and Hang Chun.
Lu and Ko further faced one count of conspiring together for Lu to accept advantages from Zheng Song-ming and Pan Shao-bin for causing or permitting Golden Leaf International Development (Hong Kong) Limited (Golden Leaf) to become a purchaser of "Double H appiness" cigarettes and/or supplying "Double Happiness" to Golden Leaf.
The alleged offences took place between December 2002 and February 2004.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Bill Ng.
Lin, who was earlier charged together with the defendants, has failed to answer court bail. The magistrate has ordered to forfeit his $800,000 bail money, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Lin 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.
No pleas were taken from Lu Dayong, 57, former chairman of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company Limited (Nanyang Brothers); Ko Kit, 36, director of Hang Chun Trade Development Limited (Hang Chun); and Chan Kai-san, 37, sales manager of Hang Chun.
Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned the case to January 25, 2005, pending transfer to the District Court. Lu was granted bail of $500,000 in cash, while Ko and Chan were respectively allowed cash bail of $700,000 and $150,000.
Lu, Ko and Chan were earlier laid a joint holding charge of conspiracy to deal with crime proceeds, under Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance. The holding charge was today replaced with two corruption and one fraud charges.
The defendants now faced one joint charge of conspiring together and with Lin Jianding and others for Lu to accept advantages from purchasers of cigarettes on the Mainland.
The alleged advantages were for Lu to permit Hang Chun to become a purchaser of "Double Happiness" cigarettes and/or supply those cigarettes to Hang Chun.
A second charge alleged the defendants of conspiring together and with Lin to defraud Nanyang Brothers by concealing from the latter that Lu had interests in Hang Chun.
The defendants were alleged to have caused Nanyang Brothers to supply "Double Happiness" cigarettes to Hang Chun, knowing that those cigarettes would be sold to the Mainland, in violation of the contracts between Nanyang Brothers and Hang Chun.
Lu and Ko further faced one count of conspiring together for Lu to accept advantages from Zheng Song-ming and Pan Shao-bin for causing or permitting Golden Leaf International Development (Hong Kong) Limited (Golden Leaf) to become a purchaser of "Double H appiness" cigarettes and/or supplying "Double Happiness" to Golden Leaf.
The alleged offences took place between December 2002 and February 2004.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Bill Ng.
Lin, who was earlier charged together with the defendants, has failed to answer court bail. The magistrate has ordered to forfeit his $800,000 bail money, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Lin 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.