Hong Kong court convicts bookmaker in case linked to ICAC corruption investigation

Hong Kong’s District Court convicted Lai Kwok-piu on two counts of bookmaking under section 7(1)(a) of the Gambling Ordinance. The ICAC said he received football bets totalling more than $3.4 million between November 2016 and March 2020; sentencing was adjourned to January 23, and he was granted bail.

The ICAC also said its investigation found that a then Police Sergeant accepted a $500,000 bribe relating to a police investigation, defrauded the Hong Kong Police Credit Union of loans and betted with an illegal bookmaker. The sergeant was charged in two cases and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and 240 hours of community service, respectively.