Property agent charged by ICAC with accepting bribes from subordinate over property transactions
2022-4-21
A former branch manager of a property agency was yesterday (April 20) charged by the ICAC with accepting bribes totalling over $37,000 from a subordinate for naming the latter as a negotiator in two property transactions.
Tai Cho-keung, 31, former branch manager of Centaline Property Agency Limited (Centaline Property), faces two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance in the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 22) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was the manager of a branch of Centaline Property in Tuen Mun. According to the policy of the company, the defendant would receive an overriding commission for any property transaction procured by a subordinate, while the subordinate would receive a sales commission in relation to the transaction.
Centaline Property prohibited branch managers from soliciting or accepting any advantages from their subordinates for arranging them to handle or assisting them in handling property transactions procured by branch managers.
The charges allege that between January 9, 2018 and February 16, 2019, the defendant conspired together with a subordinate for the defendant to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept two bribes totalling over $37,000 from the subordinate as an inducement to or reward for the defendant to represent to Centaline Property that the subordinate was a negotiator in the sale and purchase transactions of two private residential properties in Tuen Mun.
ICAC inquiries revealed that the subordinate had no involvement in procuring the two transactions. Centaline Property released about $45,000 in overriding commission and about $91,000 in sales commission to the defendant and the subordinate respectively in relation to the two transactions. It is alleged that the defendant had subsequently accepted the two bribes totalling over $37,000 from the subordinate.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Arising from the same investigation, the ICAC had earlier charged the above subordinate – a former senior account manager of Centaline Property – with two counts of bribery in a separate case.
Centaline Property has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Tai Cho-keung, 31, former branch manager of Centaline Property Agency Limited (Centaline Property), faces two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance in the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 22) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was the manager of a branch of Centaline Property in Tuen Mun. According to the policy of the company, the defendant would receive an overriding commission for any property transaction procured by a subordinate, while the subordinate would receive a sales commission in relation to the transaction.
Centaline Property prohibited branch managers from soliciting or accepting any advantages from their subordinates for arranging them to handle or assisting them in handling property transactions procured by branch managers.
The charges allege that between January 9, 2018 and February 16, 2019, the defendant conspired together with a subordinate for the defendant to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept two bribes totalling over $37,000 from the subordinate as an inducement to or reward for the defendant to represent to Centaline Property that the subordinate was a negotiator in the sale and purchase transactions of two private residential properties in Tuen Mun.
ICAC inquiries revealed that the subordinate had no involvement in procuring the two transactions. Centaline Property released about $45,000 in overriding commission and about $91,000 in sales commission to the defendant and the subordinate respectively in relation to the two transactions. It is alleged that the defendant had subsequently accepted the two bribes totalling over $37,000 from the subordinate.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Arising from the same investigation, the ICAC had earlier charged the above subordinate – a former senior account manager of Centaline Property – with two counts of bribery in a separate case.
Centaline Property has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.