A Superintendent of Police, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced to one year’s imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for misconduct in public office in relation to an application for a liquor licence from a restaurant.

Titus Wong Koon-ho, 51, was earlier found guilty of one count of misconduct in public office, contrary to the Common Law.

In sentencing, Magistrate Mrs Adriana C. Tse remarked that the defendant had knowingly broken the law, and shown no remorse during the trial.

The defendant subsequently made an application for bail, pending an appeal. His application was rejected by the magistrate.

The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above misconduct offence.

At all material times, the defendant, as a Superintendent of Police, was vested with the power to make recommendations on liquor licence applications processed by the Wan Chai Division.

The charge stated that between June and August 2011, the defendant, in the course of or in relation to his public office, wilfully and intentionally culpably misconducted himself.

The defendant accepted from two directors of a restaurant in Causeway Bay discounts on food and drinks consumed and expected to be paid for at the restaurant, and failed to declare to his supervisors the conflict of interest that had arisen as a result of him accepting the discounts.

The defendant failed to take action to stop or prevent the unlawful selling of liquor at the restaurant when he knew that liquor was sold at the restaurant without a licence.

The defendant also failed to raise objections to the liquor licence application submitted by one of the directors of the restaurant when he knew that alcohol had been supplied at the restaurant without any valid liquor licence issued by the Liquor Licensi ng Board.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Kelvin Choi.