Thirteen months’ jail for bribery over retrieving confidential customer data
2019-5-3
A former business development executive of a bank, charged by the ICAC, was today (May 3) sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for conspiracy to offer bribes totalling over $41,000 for retrieving confidential customer data from the bank.
Lam Sin-yu, 28, former business development executive of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (DBS Bank), was earlier found guilty of two charges – one 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 one of conspiracy to access computer with criminal or dishonest intent, contrary to Sections 159A and 161 of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Miss Leona Chan Pui-man said corruption was not to be tolerated in a civilised society. Should corruption emerge in its banking system, it would have a far-reaching impact on the society.
The deputy magistrate stressed that while customer data was sensitive and valuable, it was obvious that the defendant obtained them for her own financial gain. Hence, she had to mete out a custodial sentence to serve as a deterrent.
The deputy magistrate also rejected an application by the defendant for bail pending her appeal.
The court heard that the defendant became acquainted with an assistant relationship manager of DBS Bank in around late 2011 when the duo were posted to its branch in Shatin.
The defendant resigned from DBS Bank in October 2012, while the assistant relationship manager had worked in the bank until December 2016.
Through the introduction of another business development executive of DBS Bank, the defendant recruited the assistant relationship manager to participate in her scam of unauthorised extraction of confidential customer data from DBS Bank.
The court heard that between January 25 and November 29, 2016, over 1,300 entries of customer data stored in the Customer Relationship Management System (CRM system) were divulged by the assistant relationship manager to the defendant.
On July 16, 2015, the business development executive specified in her messages to the assistant relationship manager that the defendant would give her monetary rewards for retrieving the confidential customer data stored in the CRM system.
Pursuant to their agreement, the defendant had made bribe payments to the assistant relationship manager. As a result, the assistant relationship manager had received over $41,000 from the defendant, the court was told.
DBS Bank had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sanny Kwong, assisted by ICAC officers Angel Lui and Tracy Chu.
Lam Sin-yu, 28, former business development executive of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (DBS Bank), was earlier found guilty of two charges – one 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 one of conspiracy to access computer with criminal or dishonest intent, contrary to Sections 159A and 161 of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Miss Leona Chan Pui-man said corruption was not to be tolerated in a civilised society. Should corruption emerge in its banking system, it would have a far-reaching impact on the society.
The deputy magistrate stressed that while customer data was sensitive and valuable, it was obvious that the defendant obtained them for her own financial gain. Hence, she had to mete out a custodial sentence to serve as a deterrent.
The deputy magistrate also rejected an application by the defendant for bail pending her appeal.
The court heard that the defendant became acquainted with an assistant relationship manager of DBS Bank in around late 2011 when the duo were posted to its branch in Shatin.
The defendant resigned from DBS Bank in October 2012, while the assistant relationship manager had worked in the bank until December 2016.
Through the introduction of another business development executive of DBS Bank, the defendant recruited the assistant relationship manager to participate in her scam of unauthorised extraction of confidential customer data from DBS Bank.
The court heard that between January 25 and November 29, 2016, over 1,300 entries of customer data stored in the Customer Relationship Management System (CRM system) were divulged by the assistant relationship manager to the defendant.
On July 16, 2015, the business development executive specified in her messages to the assistant relationship manager that the defendant would give her monetary rewards for retrieving the confidential customer data stored in the CRM system.
Pursuant to their agreement, the defendant had made bribe payments to the assistant relationship manager. As a result, the assistant relationship manager had received over $41,000 from the defendant, the court was told.
DBS Bank had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sanny Kwong, assisted by ICAC officers Angel Lui and Tracy Chu.