Kwok brothers submit not guilty pleas to bribing HK public official

Today, billionaire brothers Thomas and Raymond Kwok submitted their not guilty please to charges that they have bribed the former number two official in Hong Kong, Bloomberg said. Prosecutors claimed that the brothers, who currently run the second-largest developer in Hong Kong, had given illicit payments and loans to ex-Hong Kong Government Chief Secretary Rafael Hui from June 2005 to June 2007. The Kwoks were also charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

Hui allegedly received a whopping HK$35 million or $4.5 million in relation to his roles as head of the Chinese city's pension fund authority and cabinet member.

Former deputy head of the city's Independent Commission Against Corruption Tony Kwok, who has no relation to the accused, said about the Kwoks' case, "Prosecuting the second-most senior ranking government official and two of the richest men in Hong Kong is unprecedented here. In other countries, such a case would most likely attract strong political interference and pressure."

62 year-old Thomas is facing two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and one charge of conspiracy to offer an advantage to Hui. His brother, 61 year-old Raymond, is fending off four other charges. The former top government official is facing eight charges regarding his illicit financial connection with the Kwok brothers.

Bloomberg noted that Hong Kong has a government and legal system separate from mainland China since reverting to Chinese rule in 1997. In the 1970s, the city's ICAC, which was created by the British colonial government, has been successfully curbing rampant graft in the city.

The news agency said that the trial will be presided by Judge Andrew Macraem and is expected to last 79 days. The new Director of Public Prosecutions of Hong Kong, Keith Yeung, has recused himself from involving in the case as he had give legal advise on the case when he was still in private practice. Yeung reportedly took office in September last year.

Tags

Thomas Kwok, Raymond Kwok, Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption, Rafael Hui

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