Eighteen arrested for alleged graft over sale of milk powder
2011-5-9
The ICAC has conducted a series of operations resulting in the arrests and interviews of various persons in connection with suspected bribery scams over the sale of milk powder at three supermarket chains as well as a health and beauty retailer chain in t he Kowloon and New Territories areas.
In the latest operation codenamed “ Sunshine ”, which commenced last Friday (May 6), a total of 15 persons were arrested.
The arrestees included six staff of four branches of a supermarket chain, three serving and two former staff of a store of a health and beauty retailer chain, and four parallel goods traders.
The supermarket and health and beauty retailer employees were alleged to have accepted bribes from the parallel goods traders as a reward for informing them of the availability of milk powder, and/or assisting them in purchasing the milk powder in bulk qu antities.
During the operation, ICAC officers seized over 1,000 cans of milk powder from the parallel goods traders.
In another operation conducted last month, the ICAC arrested a store manager of another supermarket chain and two parallel good traders.
It was suspected that the store manager had accepted bribes from the parallel goods traders for selling the milk powder to the latter in bulk quantities.
An ICAC spokesman said: “Members of the public are urged to lodge reports with the ICAC on its 24-hour hotline 2526 6366 when they come across suspected corruption in the sale of milk powder. All reports made to the ICAC will be kept in the strictest confidence.”
The supermarket chains and the beauty and health retailer chain concerned rendered full co-operation during the ICAC investigations.
All arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Enquiries are continuing.
In the latest operation codenamed “ Sunshine ”, which commenced last Friday (May 6), a total of 15 persons were arrested.
The arrestees included six staff of four branches of a supermarket chain, three serving and two former staff of a store of a health and beauty retailer chain, and four parallel goods traders.
The supermarket and health and beauty retailer employees were alleged to have accepted bribes from the parallel goods traders as a reward for informing them of the availability of milk powder, and/or assisting them in purchasing the milk powder in bulk qu antities.
During the operation, ICAC officers seized over 1,000 cans of milk powder from the parallel goods traders.
In another operation conducted last month, the ICAC arrested a store manager of another supermarket chain and two parallel good traders.
It was suspected that the store manager had accepted bribes from the parallel goods traders for selling the milk powder to the latter in bulk quantities.
An ICAC spokesman said: “Members of the public are urged to lodge reports with the ICAC on its 24-hour hotline 2526 6366 when they come across suspected corruption in the sale of milk powder. All reports made to the ICAC will be kept in the strictest confidence.”
The supermarket chains and the beauty and health retailer chain concerned rendered full co-operation during the ICAC investigations.
All arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Enquiries are continuing.