Ex-HKJC branch service associates charged with bribery over employment
2019-11-13
A then branch service associate of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has been charged by the ICAC today (November 13) with soliciting and accepting $2,000 in total from a job applicant for securing a branch service associate post.
Ma Chi-shing, 27, then branch service associate of the HKJC, faces three charges – one of public servant soliciting an advantage and two of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Koo Kin-yuet, 27, then branch service associate of the HKJC, faces two counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the POBO.
The defendants will appear at the Eastern Magistracy on Friday (November 15) for plea.
At the material time, Ma was employed by the HKJC as branch service associate and posted to Tai Kok Tsui Off-course betting branch. Koo was interested in applying for a job at the HKJC.
Two of the charges against Ma allege him of accepting $2,000 in total from Koo on January 24, 2017 and November 6, 2018, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, as inducements to or rewards for assisting Koo to apply for a post of branch service associate with the HKJC.
The two charges against Koo allege him of offering $2,000 in total to Ma on the abovementioned dates for the same purpose.
The remaining charge against Ma alleges him of soliciting $1,000 from Koo between July 5 and 13, 2017 for the same reason.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HKJC, which has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Friday.
Ma Chi-shing, 27, then branch service associate of the HKJC, faces three charges – one of public servant soliciting an advantage and two of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Koo Kin-yuet, 27, then branch service associate of the HKJC, faces two counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the POBO.
The defendants will appear at the Eastern Magistracy on Friday (November 15) for plea.
At the material time, Ma was employed by the HKJC as branch service associate and posted to Tai Kok Tsui Off-course betting branch. Koo was interested in applying for a job at the HKJC.
Two of the charges against Ma allege him of accepting $2,000 in total from Koo on January 24, 2017 and November 6, 2018, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, as inducements to or rewards for assisting Koo to apply for a post of branch service associate with the HKJC.
The two charges against Koo allege him of offering $2,000 in total to Ma on the abovementioned dates for the same purpose.
The remaining charge against Ma alleges him of soliciting $1,000 from Koo between July 5 and 13, 2017 for the same reason.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HKJC, which has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Friday.