Five persons were yesterday (Wednesday) charged by the ICAC for allegedly deceiving loans from the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and a bank by submitting false supporting documents and inflating the purchase prices of two properties concerned.

A Supplies Supervisor I of the Marine Department (MD), charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to two years' imprisonment at District Court for misconduct in public office and fraud in relation to the awarding of over $2 million worth of MD's p urchase orders.

The ICAC has decided not to lodge a further appeal in regard to the Court of Appeal's judgment handed down on October 11, 2004 over the issuing of search warrants to the ICAC.

A former senior credit manager of a bank, charged by the ICAC for bribery and fraud in relation to the granting of over HK$490 million Letters of Credit (L/C) facilities, was today (Friday) sentenced to seven years and nine months' imprisonment after a ju ry of the Court of First Instance returned a guilty verdict.

A former foreman of a hospital, charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to four months' imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for accepting a bottle of red wine and 36 packets of duty-free cigarettes from his subordinates seeking favourable treatme nt at work.

In view of an upcoming by-election of the Southern District Council (DC), the ICAC has prepared information booklets and publicity pamphlets to remind candidates, election agents and voters of the importance of upholding a clean and fair election.

A Superintendent of Police, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced to three months' imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for deceiving loans totalling about $1.14 million from financial institutions.

In response to press enquiries about Hong Kong's ranking in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by the Transparency International (TI) today (Wednesday), an ICAC spokesman noted that in this year's index, Hong Kong continued to be perceived as the second least corrupt place in Asia.

A former senior marketing manager of an insurance company, charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to five years' imprisonment at District Court for deceiving $15.7 million from the company with inflated and falsified invoices for printing order s.

An officer of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and a subcontractor were today (Friday) charged by the ICAC for alleged bribery in relation to the subcontracting of EMSD air-conditioning maintenance works, while the EMSD officer was further alleged of misconduct in public office and blackmail.