Man guilty of $3.4m illegal bookmaking on football revealed in ICAC graft probe
2026-1-9
A man charged by the ICAC was today (January 9) convicted at the District Court of bookmaking involving illegal bets placed on football matches totalling over $3.4 million. The offence was revealed in the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC.
Lai Kwok-piu, 59, was convicted of two counts of bookmaking, contrary to section 7(1)(a) of the Gambling Ordinance.
Deputy District Judge Mr Terence Wai adjourned the case to January 23 for mitigation and sentence. The defendant was granted bail.
The present case stemmed from a corruption investigation by the ICAC. It was revealed that between November 2016 and March 2020, the defendant had taken part in running an illegal bookmaking business and received bets on football matches from punters totalling over $3.4 million.
The ICAC enquiries also found that a then Police Sergeant had accepted a bribe of $500,000 in relation to a Police investigation, defrauded the Hong Kong Police Credit Union of loans and betted with an illegal bookmaker. The Police Sergeant was charged by the ICAC in two cases for bribery, fraud and other offences. He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and ordered to perform 240 hours of community service respectively in the two cases.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Timothy Chen, assisted by ICAC officer Queenie Woo.
Lai Kwok-piu, 59, was convicted of two counts of bookmaking, contrary to section 7(1)(a) of the Gambling Ordinance.
Deputy District Judge Mr Terence Wai adjourned the case to January 23 for mitigation and sentence. The defendant was granted bail.
The present case stemmed from a corruption investigation by the ICAC. It was revealed that between November 2016 and March 2020, the defendant had taken part in running an illegal bookmaking business and received bets on football matches from punters totalling over $3.4 million.
The ICAC enquiries also found that a then Police Sergeant had accepted a bribe of $500,000 in relation to a Police investigation, defrauded the Hong Kong Police Credit Union of loans and betted with an illegal bookmaker. The Police Sergeant was charged by the ICAC in two cases for bribery, fraud and other offences. He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and ordered to perform 240 hours of community service respectively in the two cases.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Timothy Chen, assisted by ICAC officer Queenie Woo.