Four jailed for check-in bribery over mainland travellers
2011-2-23
Two former employees of an airline company and two other persons, charged by the ICAC, were today (Wednesday) sent to jail at the District Court for their involvement in a bribery scam to facilitate mainland travellers’ check-in to sneak overseas via the Hong Kong airport.
Gordon Ng Ka-wah, 31, a former customer services officer of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (Cathay Pacific), received a jail term of 20 months, while Tan Wei-menn, 46, another former customer services officer of Cathay Pacific, was jailed for 16 months.
Co-defendants Patrick Cheung Chun-wah, 47, and Thomas Chan Kin-hung, 63, both unemployed, were each sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment.
Ng and Tan were also ordered to respectively pay $15,000 and $16,000 in restitution to the government, while Cheung and Chan were required to pay $20,000 and $9,000 in restitution respectively.
In sentencing, Judge Susana D’Almada Remedios said custodial sentences were imposed on the defendants in view of their serious bribery offences. The judge added that their acts had impaired the security system of Cathay Pacific and undermined the image of the Hong Kong airport.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a total of five charges of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Ng, Tan and Tsui Ying-kit were employed by Cathay Pacific as customer services officers. Cheung and Chan were escorts engaged by syndicates arranging mainland travellers to board on the flights for destin ations in the US or other European countries.
Between December 2008 and August 2009, Ng, Tan and Tsui had assisted the syndicates in carrying out check-in procedures for mainland travellers arranged by them, Cheung, Chan or their associates.
Through prior checking with Cathay Pacific’s computer system, Ng, Tan and Tsui could expedite the check-in procedures for those travellers and alert the syndicates to any security check on them to avoid troubles.
In return, Ng, Tan or Tsui accepted a bribe of $500 or $600 for each boarding pass issued to a mainland traveller. As a result, Ng and Tan had accepted bribes totalling $15,000 and $16,000 respectively.
Cheung and Chan escorted mainland travellers to check in and obtain boarding passes, respectively earning $20,000 and $9,000, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Bernard Ryan, assisted by ICAC officer Steven Ng.
Tsui Ying-kit, 30, who absconded from bail on October 23, 2009, was wanted by the ICAC for his alleged role in the above case. A warrant for his arrest was subsequently issued.
Meanwhile, So Shui-wang, 46, unemployed, was also wanted by the ICAC for allegedly offering bribes to officers of the Immigration Department and employees of airline companies to facilitate a syndicate in sneaking mainlanders from China to overseas countr ies via Hong Kong.
So was charged in another case with one count of offering advantages to public servants, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of POBO; and three of offering advantages to agents, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of POBO.
So was due to appear in Tsuen Wan Magistracy for mention on May 24 last year, but he failed to turn up. A warrant for his arrest was also subsequently issued.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Tsui and/or So or any other information which may lead to their apprehension is urged to contact the ICAC on its 24-hour hotline 2526 6366. Information received will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Gordon Ng Ka-wah, 31, a former customer services officer of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (Cathay Pacific), received a jail term of 20 months, while Tan Wei-menn, 46, another former customer services officer of Cathay Pacific, was jailed for 16 months.
Co-defendants Patrick Cheung Chun-wah, 47, and Thomas Chan Kin-hung, 63, both unemployed, were each sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment.
Ng and Tan were also ordered to respectively pay $15,000 and $16,000 in restitution to the government, while Cheung and Chan were required to pay $20,000 and $9,000 in restitution respectively.
In sentencing, Judge Susana D’Almada Remedios said custodial sentences were imposed on the defendants in view of their serious bribery offences. The judge added that their acts had impaired the security system of Cathay Pacific and undermined the image of the Hong Kong airport.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a total of five charges of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Ng, Tan and Tsui Ying-kit were employed by Cathay Pacific as customer services officers. Cheung and Chan were escorts engaged by syndicates arranging mainland travellers to board on the flights for destin ations in the US or other European countries.
Between December 2008 and August 2009, Ng, Tan and Tsui had assisted the syndicates in carrying out check-in procedures for mainland travellers arranged by them, Cheung, Chan or their associates.
Through prior checking with Cathay Pacific’s computer system, Ng, Tan and Tsui could expedite the check-in procedures for those travellers and alert the syndicates to any security check on them to avoid troubles.
In return, Ng, Tan or Tsui accepted a bribe of $500 or $600 for each boarding pass issued to a mainland traveller. As a result, Ng and Tan had accepted bribes totalling $15,000 and $16,000 respectively.
Cheung and Chan escorted mainland travellers to check in and obtain boarding passes, respectively earning $20,000 and $9,000, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Bernard Ryan, assisted by ICAC officer Steven Ng.
Tsui Ying-kit, 30, who absconded from bail on October 23, 2009, was wanted by the ICAC for his alleged role in the above case. A warrant for his arrest was subsequently issued.
Meanwhile, So Shui-wang, 46, unemployed, was also wanted by the ICAC for allegedly offering bribes to officers of the Immigration Department and employees of airline companies to facilitate a syndicate in sneaking mainlanders from China to overseas countr ies via Hong Kong.
So was charged in another case with one count of offering advantages to public servants, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of POBO; and three of offering advantages to agents, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of POBO.
So was due to appear in Tsuen Wan Magistracy for mention on May 24 last year, but he failed to turn up. A warrant for his arrest was also subsequently issued.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Tsui and/or So or any other information which may lead to their apprehension is urged to contact the ICAC on its 24-hour hotline 2526 6366. Information received will be treated in the strictest confidence.