A senior chef of a hotel, charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to one year's imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for accepting advantages in the form of free prostitution services, amounting to about $130,000, for writing favourable appraisal reports for his subordinate.

Hung Sau-chi, 58, a senior chef of the Peninsula Hotel, was earlier found guilty of one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

Co-defendant Wong Chi-ho, 50, a former senior cook of the hotel, who earlier pleaded guilty to one count of offering the advantages to Hung, was today jailed for five months.

In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Winston Leung Wing-chung reprimanded Hung for abusing his power to seek personal gains and showing no remorse.

The magistrate said the bribery offence committed by Hung constituted a breach of trust, which warranted a custodial sentence.

The court heard that at the time of the offence, Hung was a senior chef in charge of the staff restaurant of the Peninsula Hotel.

Between January 1996 and May 2004, Wong, who was under the supervision of Hung, had paid for prostitution services, calculated at about $300 a week, for Hung. The prostitution services amounted to about $130,000 in total during the said period.

In return, Hung would treat Wong favourably in preparing the latter's appraisal reports and the staff roster. Hung would also not cause any trouble to the subordinate in relation to his duties.

The management of the hotel prohibited its staff from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to the hotel's business, the court was told.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Edmond Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Marco Tam.