Salesmen in court for bribery over referral of customers
2017-1-10
A senior sales executive of a telecommunications company and a former sales representative of another telecommunications company appeared in the Eastern Magistracy today (January 10) after being charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to offer an unspecified sum of bribes in relation to referral of customers.
Jimmy Liu, 30, senior sales executive of Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN), and Laurence Lai Chi-wai, 38, former sales representative of HKT Limited (HKT), who were charged last Friday (January 6), faced a joint count of conspiracy to offer advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case to February 21 this year for plea.
At the material time, Liu and Lai were employed by HKBN and HKT respectively as salesmen to perform various duties, including promoting broadband services offered by their companies. Apart from basic salaries, they earned commissions for successfully procuring customers to subscribe to broadband services of their companies.
The charge alleged that between May 13 and June 19, 2015, Liu and Lai conspired together to offer an unspecified sum of bribes to Lai as a reward for Lai referring to Liu HKT customers, who had their service contracts with HKT about to expire and did not wish to extend their contracts with HKT, to subscribe to the service of HKBN.
The bribes allegedly accepted by Lai for referring customers of HKT to Liu amounted to over $1,000.
Liu and Lai were granted cash bail of $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. They were ordered to reside at their reported addresses, and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
HKBN and HKT had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jeff Ng.
Jimmy Liu, 30, senior sales executive of Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN), and Laurence Lai Chi-wai, 38, former sales representative of HKT Limited (HKT), who were charged last Friday (January 6), faced a joint count of conspiracy to offer advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case to February 21 this year for plea.
At the material time, Liu and Lai were employed by HKBN and HKT respectively as salesmen to perform various duties, including promoting broadband services offered by their companies. Apart from basic salaries, they earned commissions for successfully procuring customers to subscribe to broadband services of their companies.
The charge alleged that between May 13 and June 19, 2015, Liu and Lai conspired together to offer an unspecified sum of bribes to Lai as a reward for Lai referring to Liu HKT customers, who had their service contracts with HKT about to expire and did not wish to extend their contracts with HKT, to subscribe to the service of HKBN.
The bribes allegedly accepted by Lai for referring customers of HKT to Liu amounted to over $1,000.
Liu and Lai were granted cash bail of $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. They were ordered to reside at their reported addresses, and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
HKBN and HKT had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jeff Ng.