Seven persons, including a jockey formerly employed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), have been arrested by the ICAC in connection with a corruption investigation over a tips-for-bets bribery scam.

The arrests were made in an operation code-named " Twin Towns ", which commenced yesterday (Monday).

The remaining arrestees included four suspected illegal bookmakers, as well as two other individuals who allegedly acted as middlemen in the bribery scam.

ICAC investigation revealed that the arrested jockey had allegedly accepted advantages, either directly or through the middlemen, from illegal bookmakers and punters for providing tips relating to his mounts in various race meetings.

The alleged advantages were believed to be in the form of bets placed by the illegal bookmakers and punters on the jockey's behalf, as well as dividends generated from those bets.

Investigation revealed that on a number of occasions during the racing season ending last Sunday, bets totalling about $0.6 million were placed on behalf of the jockey, who had received, or was expecting to receive, dividends totalling about $1.6 million.

HKJC offered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation of the case.

The corruption inquiry is continuing.