Three property agents charged by ICAC over bribes-for-divulging property vendors’ information
2025-5-7
A property agent and two directors of another property agency were charged by the ICAC today (May 7) for allegedly offering and accepting bribes totalling $32,500 for divulging information of property vendors to promote services of the property agency.
The defendants are Kong Ka-shing, 27, property agent of Midland Realty International Limited (Midland Realty); Tong Hei-yi, 31; and Chau Ting-fung, 42, both directors-cum-shareholders of Kashing Property (Corp) Limited (Kashing Property).
The trio jointly face one count 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.
Kong further faces one count of access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent, contrary to Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.
The three defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (May 9) for mention.
At the material time, Kong was posted to a branch of Midland Realty in Shatin, and Tong and Chau were directors-cum-shareholders of Kashing Property, a property agency providing property agency services in Taipo and nearby areas.
One of the charges alleges that between May and October 2022, the three defendants conspired with others for Kong to accept $32,500 from individuals including Tong and Chau to assist those individuals or Kashing Property to obtain client information of Midland Realty.
Another charge alleges that Kong obtained access to a computer operated by Midland Realty with a view to dishonest gain when working at the Shatin branch of Midland Realty during the abovementioned period.
The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that in the six months when the offences occurred, Kong was suspected of accepting several thousand dollars per month from Kashing Property for retrieving the information of property vendors, including their surnames, phone numbers and property addresses, from the database of Midland Realty, and passing over 1,000 records of property vendors to individuals including Tong and Chau for Kashing Property to promote its services.
Midland Realty rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants are Kong Ka-shing, 27, property agent of Midland Realty International Limited (Midland Realty); Tong Hei-yi, 31; and Chau Ting-fung, 42, both directors-cum-shareholders of Kashing Property (Corp) Limited (Kashing Property).
The trio jointly face one count 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.
Kong further faces one count of access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent, contrary to Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.
The three defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (May 9) for mention.
At the material time, Kong was posted to a branch of Midland Realty in Shatin, and Tong and Chau were directors-cum-shareholders of Kashing Property, a property agency providing property agency services in Taipo and nearby areas.
One of the charges alleges that between May and October 2022, the three defendants conspired with others for Kong to accept $32,500 from individuals including Tong and Chau to assist those individuals or Kashing Property to obtain client information of Midland Realty.
Another charge alleges that Kong obtained access to a computer operated by Midland Realty with a view to dishonest gain when working at the Shatin branch of Midland Realty during the abovementioned period.
The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that in the six months when the offences occurred, Kong was suspected of accepting several thousand dollars per month from Kashing Property for retrieving the information of property vendors, including their surnames, phone numbers and property addresses, from the database of Midland Realty, and passing over 1,000 records of property vendors to individuals including Tong and Chau for Kashing Property to promote its services.
Midland Realty rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.