Businessman in court for alleged bribery over bank remittance
2015-5-8
A businessman appeared in the Eastern Magistracy today (Friday) after being charged by the ICAC for allegedly offering a bribe to an officer of a bank to facilitate the deposit of a remittance.
Teo Eng-bock, 75, director and shareholder of Gold Power Enterprises Holdings Inc. (Gold Power), who was charged on Wednesday (May 6), faced one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendant today pleaded not guilty to the charge. Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case to June 2 this year for a pre-trial review.
At the material time, the defendant was the director and shareholder of Gold Power. He was also the sole authorised signatory of a bank account the company opened at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).
The charge alleged that on May 28, 2014, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered to an assistant vice president of the HSBC Business Centre an unspecified sum representing a portion of the remittance to be paid into the Gold Power bank account held with the bank as a reward for facilitating the deposit of the remittance into the said bank account.
The defendant was granted bail, and was ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and not to leave Hong Kong.
HSBC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Chong Kwok-sum.
Teo Eng-bock, 75, director and shareholder of Gold Power Enterprises Holdings Inc. (Gold Power), who was charged on Wednesday (May 6), faced one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendant today pleaded not guilty to the charge. Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case to June 2 this year for a pre-trial review.
At the material time, the defendant was the director and shareholder of Gold Power. He was also the sole authorised signatory of a bank account the company opened at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).
The charge alleged that on May 28, 2014, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered to an assistant vice president of the HSBC Business Centre an unspecified sum representing a portion of the remittance to be paid into the Gold Power bank account held with the bank as a reward for facilitating the deposit of the remittance into the said bank account.
The defendant was granted bail, and was ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and not to leave Hong Kong.
HSBC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Chong Kwok-sum.