An assistant tax officer has been charged by Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog for allegedly accepting over HK$19,000 in bribes to assist four taxpayers to pay less tax and track debtors.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) charged 46-year-old Li Ying-wah, who worked at the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), on Tuesday with five counts of accepting an advantage and one count of soliciting an advantage, according to a press release.
Li will also face one count of conspiracy to commit Misconduct in Public Office (MIPO), an alternative charge of MIPO, and one count of common assault.
The ICAC also charged a 36-year-old foreman of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) named Ho Lok-lam with MIPO, after he allegedly obtained the personal data of a taxpayer unlawfully from Li.
Six bribes and assault charge
The bribes took place between between June 2022 and September 2023, the ICAC said, when Li was posted to the IRD’s Collection Enforcement Section and Assessing Group. At the time, Li had access to taxpayer details, documents and correspondence.
“It is alleged that Li had accepted bribes totalling $19,000 from three taxpayers and solicited a bribe of an unspecified sum from another taxpayer when he handled enquiries from them. Li allegedly assisted and guided the four taxpayers in filling in their tax returns or relevant forms to pay less tax, and provided information of debtors of a taxpayer for his debt collection,” the Tuesday press release said.
On September 19, 2023, Li was alleged to have deliberately touched a woman’s hand and solicited HK$1,000 whilst assisting her to fill in a tax form at the IRD’s Kai Tak office, resulting in the assault charge. The woman was said to be among the four taxpayers involved in the scheme.
Meanwhile, the watchdog said that Ho was working at the FEHD’s Sai Kung District Pest Control Section between May and June 2023 when he allegedly obtained a complainant’s personal data from Ho.
“Complaints were lodged by a complainant against Ho for not properly following up on the mosquito problems in the district. The ICAC investigation revealed that upon Ho’s request, Li had conducted searches in the IRD’s computer systems for the personal information of the complainant and her family members,” the ICAC said.
The ICAC said both Li and Ho were released on ICAC bail, and the case will be heard on Thursday at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts.
| 💡 Under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, it is unlawful to disclose the details of investigations launched by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, or the identity of individuals involved, unless officially revealed. |
The IRD told Ming Pao, said that Li was suspended from work in September 2023. The FEHD said Ho was also suspended.
“The Commission will continue to remind civil servants to uphold a high standard of probity and adhere to the law at all times through publicity and educational initiatives. Civil servants should never abuse their official capacity to engage in corrupt and illegal activities,” the ICAC’s statement read.
