The former chairperson of publicly listed Shanghai Merchants Holdings Limited, awaiting trial in connection with suspected share manipulation, faced an additional charge of perverting the course of justice by seeking to interfere with a prosecution witnes s.

The ICAC Commissioner, Mr Raymond Wong Hung-chiu, today (Thursday) called upon both the government and business leaders to put ethical governance into practice and remain vigilant against corruption and malpractice.

The ICAC has arrested 12 persons, including four members of the Kwun Tong District Council (KTDC), for their alleged roles in making false claims of District Council subsidies totalling about $260,000.

Six persons, charged by the ICAC in five separate cases, today (Tuesday) appeared before the Kowloon City Magistracy for attempting to deceive the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) for compensation totalling $612,000.

A Senior Engineer of the Highways Department, charged by the ICAC, today (Monday) appeared before the Eastern Magistracy for allegedly deceiving Private Tenancy Allowances (PTA) from the Government, and assisting other government officers in cheating hous ing allowances by fraudulent means.

A businessman, charged by the ICAC for allegedly offering bribe payments to an officer of the Customs & Excise Department (C&E) for obtaining restricted information on textile companies under investigation and the duty roster of the officer, today (Friday ) appeared at the Kowloon City Magistracy on two corruption charges.

The ICAC will start distributing information booklets to help candidates and election agents of the Chief Executive (CE) Election better understand the provisions of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) as the nomination for the e lection begins today (Friday).

A former member of the Eastern District Council (DC) and his wife, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) convicted at Eastern Magistracy of committing voting offences at the 2003 Eastern DC Election.

A former executive director of publicly listed Kwong Hing International Holdings (Bermuda) Limited (Kwong Hing) and a former executive director of a securities company, charged by the ICAC, were today (Friday) convicted at District Court of bribery in rel ation to the purchase of Kwong Hing's shares and the publication of a research report of the listed company.

The Court of Final Appeal (CFA) today (Thursday) unanimously dismissed the appeals of a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and a businesswoman convicted in a bribery trial.