Ex-Cathay employee charged in human smuggling bribery case after 15 years on the run

a day ago

A former Cathay Pacific employee has been charged by Hong Kong's anti-corruption watchdog over a 2009 human smuggling case after fleeing the city for 15 years.
The airline's former customer service officer, Tsui Ying-kit, 44, appeared at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, facing four counts of 'conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages' after returning to the city the day before.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Tuesday that Tsui was initially arrested in 2009 for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for issuing boarding passes to travellers organised by a human smuggling syndicate.
A warrant was later issued for his arrest after he jumped bail. He was taken into custody upon his arrival in Hong Kong on Monday.
Tsui is accused of conspiring with members of the syndicate, along with two other Cathay ground crew members, to ensure that smuggled individuals could board their flights, the ICAC said.
They also allegedly provided the syndicate with information about the travellers' boarding status and security details from Cathay's internal system.
According to the ICAC, Tsui received between HK$1,000 and HK$2,000 for each traveller.
Two members of the syndicate and two former Cathay employees pleaded guilty and were sentenced to jail, ranging from 14 to 20 months, in February 2011.
On Tuesday, Magistrate Edward Wong ordered Tsui to remain in custody until his next court appearance on September 30.
Under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, anyone convicted of accepting advantages as an agent faces a maximum fine of HK$500,000 and up to seven years' imprisonment.

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Eighteen arrested over forged talent scheme documents

RTHK

13 hours ago

RTHK

Eighteen arrested over forged talent scheme documents

Eighteen arrested over forged talent scheme documents A criminal syndicate is suspected of forging documents such as overseas university qualifications to help people secure the right to live in Hong Kong. Photo: RTHK Eighteen people have been arrested on suspicion of providing or using forged documents for applications to Hong Kong's top talent scheme which comes with residency rights. The Immigration Department on Wednesday said five of the 18 are Hong Kong residents suspected of running the scam operation, while the rest are mainlanders who made applications under the scheme. At a press briefing, the department said a syndicate used social media to contact people interested in securing Hong Kong residency, claiming they could provide a "one-stop service". "The syndicate would first charge a fee of around HK$1.5 million and then forge documents including overseas university qualifications, students visas, immigration stamps and an employment certificate for visa applications," said Assistant Principal Immigration Officer Hui Chi-kin. "After the applicant receives permission to enter Hong Kong, applicants are then charged another HK$1 million for follow-up services, which include applying for identity cards for the applicant's dependants, false rental contracts and payrolls." Hui said the syndicate is thought to have been operating for 1.5 years and filed at least 22 applications, involving some HK$55 million. The five people suspected of being part of the gang are also believed to have taken part in money laundering activities, the department said. It added that the authorities will be stepping up checks on talent scheme applications.