Businessman charged by ICAC for offering $50,000 bribe to PolyU SPEED lecturer over admission
2024-11-18
A businessman appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for mention this afternoon (November 18) after being charged by the ICAC in the morning for allegedly offering a bribe of $50,000 to a senior lecturer of the School of Professional Education and Executive Development (SPEED) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in a bid to secure his admission to a top-up degree programme.
Kang Jie, 38, businessman, faced one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. No plea was taken today. Magistrate Ms Vivian Ho Wai-han adjourned the case to December 30 for plea and granted bail to the defendant.
SPEED, which is under the College of Professional and Continuing Education of the PolyU, offers various self-financed articulation bachelor’s degree programmes. Programme applicants are required to possess the relevant academic qualifications and attain certain English qualification. Applicants who do not possess the relevant English qualification will be arranged to attend an English interview. Those passing the interview will be considered to have attained the English qualification.
At the material time, the defendant intended to apply for admission to a self-financed bachelor’s degree programme of PolyU SPEED. He attended the English interview twice this year but did not get a pass.
The charge alleges that on November 4, 2024, the defendant offered a bribe of $50,000 to a senior lecturer who took part in conducting the English interviews for assisting his admission to the bachelor’s degree programme in which he applied for. The lecturer immediately rejected the defendant’s offer and filed a report with the ICAC.
PolyU rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Kayden Yuen.
Integrity in the academic circle is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s development into an international hub for tertiary education. Applicants are reminded not to offer any bribes to staff members of education institutions in exchange for their assistance or favour. The ICAC does not tolerate any acts undermining integrity of the education sector. If such acts are found, the Commission will follow up on them in a serious manner and take resolute enforcement actions. Should anyone come across any suspicion of corruption, he or she should report to the ICAC immediately. ICAC 24-hour Report Corruption Hotline: 25 266 366.
Kang Jie, 38, businessman, faced one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. No plea was taken today. Magistrate Ms Vivian Ho Wai-han adjourned the case to December 30 for plea and granted bail to the defendant.
SPEED, which is under the College of Professional and Continuing Education of the PolyU, offers various self-financed articulation bachelor’s degree programmes. Programme applicants are required to possess the relevant academic qualifications and attain certain English qualification. Applicants who do not possess the relevant English qualification will be arranged to attend an English interview. Those passing the interview will be considered to have attained the English qualification.
At the material time, the defendant intended to apply for admission to a self-financed bachelor’s degree programme of PolyU SPEED. He attended the English interview twice this year but did not get a pass.
The charge alleges that on November 4, 2024, the defendant offered a bribe of $50,000 to a senior lecturer who took part in conducting the English interviews for assisting his admission to the bachelor’s degree programme in which he applied for. The lecturer immediately rejected the defendant’s offer and filed a report with the ICAC.
PolyU rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Kayden Yuen.
Integrity in the academic circle is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s development into an international hub for tertiary education. Applicants are reminded not to offer any bribes to staff members of education institutions in exchange for their assistance or favour. The ICAC does not tolerate any acts undermining integrity of the education sector. If such acts are found, the Commission will follow up on them in a serious manner and take resolute enforcement actions. Should anyone come across any suspicion of corruption, he or she should report to the ICAC immediately. ICAC 24-hour Report Corruption Hotline: 25 266 366.