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.
