ICAC arrests 72 for alleged corrupt conduct at 2016 LegCo Election
2017-4-3
The ICAC has arrested 72 persons for allegedly engaging in corrupt conduct of vote-rigging in the Information Technology Functional Constituency (ITFC) of the 2016 Legislative Council (LegCo) Election.
Arrested in the operation codenamed “Snow Leopard”, which lasted from Tuesday (March 28) to Thursday (March 30), were 68 newly registered electors of the ITFC, and four middlemen, three of whom were also registered electors of the ITFC.
The investigation arose from complaints alleging corrupt conduct in breach of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance at the ITFC of the 2016 LegCo Election held on September 4, 2016.
ICAC enquiries revealed that most of the arrestees had newly registered as electors of the ITFC through their membership with two professional organisations in the information technology (IT) field.
The arrested middlemen might have collected personal data of other arrestees through relatives, friends and other associates for registration as members of either one of the two IT professional organisations and onward registration as electors of the ITFC.
Enquiries revealed that the newly registered electors, with background ranging from students, clerks, drivers to housewives, might not possess the requisite academic qualifications and/or working experience in the IT field to qualify them for membership of the IT professional organisations.
Enquiries also revealed that some of the electors had allegedly accepted monetary rewards in the process.
Records from the Registration and Electoral Office revealed that most of the newly registered electors had allegedly voted in the ITFC of the LegCo Election.
All the arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Enquiries are continuing.
Arrested in the operation codenamed “Snow Leopard”, which lasted from Tuesday (March 28) to Thursday (March 30), were 68 newly registered electors of the ITFC, and four middlemen, three of whom were also registered electors of the ITFC.
The investigation arose from complaints alleging corrupt conduct in breach of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance at the ITFC of the 2016 LegCo Election held on September 4, 2016.
ICAC enquiries revealed that most of the arrestees had newly registered as electors of the ITFC through their membership with two professional organisations in the information technology (IT) field.
The arrested middlemen might have collected personal data of other arrestees through relatives, friends and other associates for registration as members of either one of the two IT professional organisations and onward registration as electors of the ITFC.
Enquiries revealed that the newly registered electors, with background ranging from students, clerks, drivers to housewives, might not possess the requisite academic qualifications and/or working experience in the IT field to qualify them for membership of the IT professional organisations.
Enquiries also revealed that some of the electors had allegedly accepted monetary rewards in the process.
Records from the Registration and Electoral Office revealed that most of the newly registered electors had allegedly voted in the ITFC of the LegCo Election.
All the arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Enquiries are continuing.