ICAC charges 17 with Legco poll rigging, bribery

The ICAC says all the defendants will appear at the Eastern Magistracy on Friday. File Photo: RTHK

Timmy Sung reports

Seventeen people have been charged by the anti-corruption watchdog for alleged bribery and vote-rigging in the 2016 Legco election concerning the IT sector.



The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has laid the charges this month, against the group of people including members of a taxi association and their relatives.



The anti-graft body said those being charged include the corporate affairs director of the Taxi Drivers and Operators Association, Li Wai-man; an executive committee member of the association, Lui Ah-fook and three staff members of the taxi body.



Five relatives of Lui also face corruption-related offences.



The ICAC alleged that Li and three other defendants conspired with other people to offer HK$1,000 each to 36 people, for them to vote for a particular candidate standing in the IT sector election.



It said that happened between April 14 and September 4, 2016 – the day the Legco General Election took place.



Charles Mok was running against Eric Yeung in the race for the seat representing the Information Technology Functional Constituency in Legco.



Another conspiracy charge against Li and three staff of the taxi group relates to allegations that they cheated the election authorities by entering fake information of 240 people, so they could become members of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and therefore be eligible to vote in the election.



Charles Mok, who won the seat to become lawmaker representing the IT sector, said it’s been three years since he reported possible vote-rigging in his sector and he welcomed the ICAC's actions.