Company operator charged with bribery while co-accused wanted by ICAC
2011-10-17
An operator of a New Zealand asset holding company has been today (Monday) charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to offer over HK$73 million and two properties in New Zealand as bribes in relation to the acquisition of her company by a Hong Kong listed comp any and with laundering NZ$150 million in crime proceeds, while a co-accused is wanted by the ICAC for his alleged role in the case.
Hao May, formerly known as Wang May-yan, 49, operator of UBNZ Assets Holdings Limited (UBAH), faces one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and two of dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant, currently on ICAC bail, will appear at Eastern Magistracy at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow (October 18) for mention, pending further enquiries.
At the time of the alleged offences, Natural Dairy (NZ) Holdings Limited (NDNZ) was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
The conspiracy charge alleges that between May 2009 and March 2010, the defendant conspired together and with Chen Keen, then an executive director of NDNZ, and other persons to offer two properties in Auckland, New Zealand and a sum of over HK$73 million to Chen as rewards for Chen to procure NDNZ to acquire UBAH, a company owned by the defendant.
The two remaining charges allege that between December 2009 and December 2010, the defendant dealt with the sales proceeds of UBAH, including two convertible notes of NDNZ with a total value of NZ$150 million, which represented the proceeds of an indictab le offence.
Chen, 43, failed to report bail today at the ICAC. Upon application by the ICAC, the Eastern Magistracy has issued a warrant for the arrest of Chen for his alleged offences in the case.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Chen 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.
The ICAC appreciates the cross-jurisdictional assistance provided by the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office in this investigation.
Hao May, formerly known as Wang May-yan, 49, operator of UBNZ Assets Holdings Limited (UBAH), faces one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and two of dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant, currently on ICAC bail, will appear at Eastern Magistracy at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow (October 18) for mention, pending further enquiries.
At the time of the alleged offences, Natural Dairy (NZ) Holdings Limited (NDNZ) was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
The conspiracy charge alleges that between May 2009 and March 2010, the defendant conspired together and with Chen Keen, then an executive director of NDNZ, and other persons to offer two properties in Auckland, New Zealand and a sum of over HK$73 million to Chen as rewards for Chen to procure NDNZ to acquire UBAH, a company owned by the defendant.
The two remaining charges allege that between December 2009 and December 2010, the defendant dealt with the sales proceeds of UBAH, including two convertible notes of NDNZ with a total value of NZ$150 million, which represented the proceeds of an indictab le offence.
Chen, 43, failed to report bail today at the ICAC. Upon application by the ICAC, the Eastern Magistracy has issued a warrant for the arrest of Chen for his alleged offences in the case.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Chen 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.
The ICAC appreciates the cross-jurisdictional assistance provided by the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office in this investigation.