Thirty-three arrested for alleged bribery over vehicle examination
2011-11-9
In an operation codenamed “ Kingsfield ” mounted over the past two days, the ICAC has arrested 33 persons for alleged bribery in relation to the roadworthiness examination of private vehicles.
The arrestees included a manager, a supervisor and 11 approved car testers of a car testing centre; a manager, a foreman and 15 approved car testers of another car testing centre; as well as three garage operators.
Upon receipt of a corruption complaint, the ICAC commenced an investigation into an allegation that staff members of the car testing centres might have conspired with the approved car testers to accept advantages from the garage operators as rewards for c onducting lax inspection to ensure that vehicles presented by the operators could pass the roadworthiness examination.
According to the Road Traffic Ordinance, all private cars of six years or above are required to have an annual vehicle examination and be issued with a certificate of roadworthiness for the renewal of licence upon satisfactory completion of the examinatio n.
The two car testing centres, both in Kowloon, are appointed by the Transport Department (TD) to conduct the annual examination for private cars.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the managers, the supervisor and the foreman might have conspired with the approved car testers to defraud the TD by passing the roadworthiness examination of vehicles which failed to meet the requirements of TD.
TD and the management of the two car testing centres had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Enquiries are continuing.
The arrestees included a manager, a supervisor and 11 approved car testers of a car testing centre; a manager, a foreman and 15 approved car testers of another car testing centre; as well as three garage operators.
Upon receipt of a corruption complaint, the ICAC commenced an investigation into an allegation that staff members of the car testing centres might have conspired with the approved car testers to accept advantages from the garage operators as rewards for c onducting lax inspection to ensure that vehicles presented by the operators could pass the roadworthiness examination.
According to the Road Traffic Ordinance, all private cars of six years or above are required to have an annual vehicle examination and be issued with a certificate of roadworthiness for the renewal of licence upon satisfactory completion of the examinatio n.
The two car testing centres, both in Kowloon, are appointed by the Transport Department (TD) to conduct the annual examination for private cars.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the managers, the supervisor and the foreman might have conspired with the approved car testers to defraud the TD by passing the roadworthiness examination of vehicles which failed to meet the requirements of TD.
TD and the management of the two car testing centres had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Enquiries are continuing.