Manager brought to court for offering illegal commission of Euro 50,000 to bank staff
2017-10-24
A manager of a web services company was brought to the Eastern Magistracy today (October 24) after being charged by the ICAC with offering an illegal commission of Euro 50,000 to an employee of a bank for assisting him in handling a remittance of Euro five million.
Samuel Alexandre Nicolas Bongard, 29, manager of Web Marketing 26 Limited (Web 26), was arrested by ICAC officers in the afternoon of Sunday (October 22).
After seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC charged Bongard with one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and brought him to the Eastern Magistracy for mention.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case until November 21 this year for mention.
At the material time, the defendant was a manager of Web 26, a web services company in Hong Kong. He was the sole signatory of its account with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC).
The charge alleged that on December 13, 2016, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered a commission of Euro 50,000 to an employee of HSBC as a reward for assisting him in handling a remittance in the sum of Euro five million to be sent by telegraphic transfer into the account of Web 26 held with HSBC.
The employee of HSBC refused the offer and reported the matter to the bank.
The defendant was granted cash bail of HK$100,000. He was also ordered to surrender all travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, report to the Police thrice a week, and not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
The management of HSBC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Magdalen Tsai.
Samuel Alexandre Nicolas Bongard, 29, manager of Web Marketing 26 Limited (Web 26), was arrested by ICAC officers in the afternoon of Sunday (October 22).
After seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC charged Bongard with one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and brought him to the Eastern Magistracy for mention.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case until November 21 this year for mention.
At the material time, the defendant was a manager of Web 26, a web services company in Hong Kong. He was the sole signatory of its account with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC).
The charge alleged that on December 13, 2016, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered a commission of Euro 50,000 to an employee of HSBC as a reward for assisting him in handling a remittance in the sum of Euro five million to be sent by telegraphic transfer into the account of Web 26 held with HSBC.
The employee of HSBC refused the offer and reported the matter to the bank.
The defendant was granted cash bail of HK$100,000. He was also ordered to surrender all travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, report to the Police thrice a week, and not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
The management of HSBC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Magdalen Tsai.