Superintendent of Police and two others admit bribery over operation of private clubs
2018-9-27
A Superintendent of Police (SP) and two operators of two private clubs, charged by the ICAC, admitted at the District Court today (September 27) that they had respectively accepted and offered bribes of $570,000 in total in relation to the operation of the private clubs in Wan Chai.
Ng Wai-hon, 54, SP, and Luen Kei-cheung, 47, operator of MB Club Mont. Busa (MBC) and GOLDEN, pleaded guilty to a joint charge of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Tse Hoi-kin, 38, also operator of MBC and GOLDEN, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of aiding and abetting another person to offer an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the POBO and Section 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.
Deputy Judge Li Chi-ho ordered that the remaining charges against Ng, Luen and/or Tse be left on court file.
The deputy judge adjourned the case to October 18 for sentence and remanded the defendants in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that at the material time, Ng was a SP attached to the Administration and Support (Crime) of Crime Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters, who was tasked to oversee the operation of its Regional Anti-triad Unit (RATU). Luen and Tse were both operators of MBC and GOLDEN, private clubs in Wan Chai.
In June 2015, the RATU started to investigate MBC for suspected vice activities. Later in mid-2016, the RATU also started an investigation into GOLDEN after receiving intelligence about its operation. The progress of the investigations was reported to Ng.
The court heard that Ng was seen to have met Luen and/or Tse on 11 occasions and visited MBC twice between March 31, 2016 and January 24, 2017.
ICAC enquiries revealed that during the meetings, Ng disclosed to Luen and/or Tse confidential information relating to the police investigations of MBC and GOLDEN, including details of anonymous complaints against MBC received by the Police as well as the Police’s inspections on private clubs in Wan Chai.
Enquiries also revealed that Ng rendered advice or assistance to Luen and Tse so that they could evade inspections and investigations by the Police.
In return, Ng accepted a bribe of $114,000 each on January 27, May 3, September 6, November 16, 2016 and January 24, 2017, totalling $570,000, from Luen as rewards.
The court heard that on January 24, 2017, Tse aided and abetted Luen to offer the bribe of $114,000 to Ng for the same purpose.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Derek Lai and Acting Senior Public Prosecutor Kasmine Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Kienn Tang.
Ng Wai-hon, 54, SP, and Luen Kei-cheung, 47, operator of MB Club Mont. Busa (MBC) and GOLDEN, pleaded guilty to a joint charge of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Tse Hoi-kin, 38, also operator of MBC and GOLDEN, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of aiding and abetting another person to offer an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the POBO and Section 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.
Deputy Judge Li Chi-ho ordered that the remaining charges against Ng, Luen and/or Tse be left on court file.
The deputy judge adjourned the case to October 18 for sentence and remanded the defendants in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that at the material time, Ng was a SP attached to the Administration and Support (Crime) of Crime Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters, who was tasked to oversee the operation of its Regional Anti-triad Unit (RATU). Luen and Tse were both operators of MBC and GOLDEN, private clubs in Wan Chai.
In June 2015, the RATU started to investigate MBC for suspected vice activities. Later in mid-2016, the RATU also started an investigation into GOLDEN after receiving intelligence about its operation. The progress of the investigations was reported to Ng.
The court heard that Ng was seen to have met Luen and/or Tse on 11 occasions and visited MBC twice between March 31, 2016 and January 24, 2017.
ICAC enquiries revealed that during the meetings, Ng disclosed to Luen and/or Tse confidential information relating to the police investigations of MBC and GOLDEN, including details of anonymous complaints against MBC received by the Police as well as the Police’s inspections on private clubs in Wan Chai.
Enquiries also revealed that Ng rendered advice or assistance to Luen and Tse so that they could evade inspections and investigations by the Police.
In return, Ng accepted a bribe of $114,000 each on January 27, May 3, September 6, November 16, 2016 and January 24, 2017, totalling $570,000, from Luen as rewards.
The court heard that on January 24, 2017, Tse aided and abetted Luen to offer the bribe of $114,000 to Ng for the same purpose.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Derek Lai and Acting Senior Public Prosecutor Kasmine Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Kienn Tang.