A Hong Kong police chief inspector has been jailed for 2½ years for accepting more than HK$1.1 million (US$140,400) in cash and gifts from a businessman in exchange for ending a criminal investigation against him and divulging details about two other cases.
Tsuen Wan Court, which is now handling District Court cases, on Tuesday sentenced Ho Siu-tung on two counts each of accepting advantages as a public servant and misconduct in public office over his illicit dealings with Qu Haipeng between August 2021 and January 2023.
The court heard that the 40-year-old officer, who has been suspended, was marked for promotion to superintendent before he started taking bribes to keep up an affluent lifestyle beyond his monthly income of HK$100,000.
In his mitigation letter, Ho admitted that he had become Qu’s “private servant” after failing to resist the temptation of quick cash and benefits.
He also revealed that his mother had died shortly before his conviction, while his wife had initiated divorce proceedings following his arrest.
Deputy District Judge Terence Wai Hon-hei cited Ho’s supervisor as saying the defendant had made exceptional contributions to maintaining law and order in the city with his “extraordinary” and “innovative” ideas on crime detection and prevention.
