Ex-advertising manager, two subordinates charged with soliciting bribes by ICAC
ICAC on Thursday charged a 42-year-old man for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes totaling over HK$120,000, along with two of his subordinates who were also accused of offering bribes.
The trio, Daniel Wu Hang-chi, also known as Wu Che-hang, former assistant general manager of the advertising department of Hong Kong Commercial Daily (HKCD), and the two subordinates, Lee Kwok-wai, 49, former sales representative of HKCD; and Ngo Kam-fai, 43, sales representatives of HKCD, face a total of eight charges – three of conspiracy for an agent to solicit an advantage and five of offering an advantage to an agent.
The three were released on ICAC bail. They would appear at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (April 3), pending the prosecution’s application for transferring the case to the District Court.
Wu, at the material time, was responsible for overseeing the department's operations and supervising sales representatives, including Lee and Ngo. As for the duo, they were responsible for sourcing sponsors for various events organized by HKCD and were entitled to 10 percent of the sponsorships secured as commission.
Between November 2019 and November 2021, Lee, Ngo, and another two sales representatives secured sponsorships totaling over HK$3.5 million for four events.
It is alleged that Wu and Lee conspired to solicit three bribes totaling about HK$35,000 from the two other sales representatives as a reward for Wu to help the duo obtain sponsorship for two of the events.
The bribes were equivalent to 30 percent of the commissions payable to the two sales representatives in relation to the events, and they both rejected the two defendants’ requests.
In addition, Lee and Ngo allegedly offered four bribes totaling about HK$83,000 and a bribe of HK$5,000 to Wu, respectively, for assisting Lee and Ngo in obtaining sponsorships for the above events.
ICAC thanked HKCD for its full assistance during the investigation into the case.