Then listed company deputy general manager and mother face additional charge for roles in AUD$25m bribery case pending committal to High Court

A then deputy general manager of a listed company and his parents were earlier charged by the ICAC with bribery for showing favour to an Australian businessman regarding the listed company’s investments in overseas property development projects, involving bribes amounting to about AUD$25 million. The Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (June 3) approved the prosecution’s application to amend the indictment, laying an additional bribery charge against the then deputy general manager and his mother while the case is pending committal to the High Court.

Ng Wai, 46, then deputy general manager of Beijing Capital Land Limited (BCL, delisted); and his mother Han Shang-min, 75, were earlier charged with one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. Ng Wai’s father, Ng Cho-wong, 77, was charged with two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage last Thursday (May 28).

The three defendants appeared today at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts for mention in two cases. Principal Magistrate Mr David Cheung Chi-wai approved the prosecution’s application to amend the indictment against Ng Wai and Han Shang-min, and to lay an additional bribery charge against them. The trio currently face two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage.

The principal magistrate also approved the prosecution’s application to consolidate the two cases and commit the case to the High Court for plea. The case was adjourned to July 13 for return day at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts, and the defendants were granted bail.

BCL was listed on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited from June 2003 to September 2021. At the material time, Ng Wai served as the deputy general manager of BCL, and also as the general manager of BCL’s branch in Australia.

The two charges allege that between June 2014 and November 2021, the three defendants conspired together to accept bribes totalling AUD$22 million and an investment opportunity contract, making a profit of about AUD$3 million, from an Australian businessman for Ng Wai to show favour to the Australian businessman and his associated companies in relation to BCL’s business.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that following Ng Wai’s recommendations, BCL invested in various property development projects in Australia worth approximately AUD$820 million in total since 2014. Most of these projects were developed by companies associated with the Australian businessman.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jeff Chow.

Reference URL: https://www.icac.org.hk/en/p/press/index_id_4953.html

Source industry: Listing companies