ICAC arrested 13 bank employees for assisting in defrauding the gov't in SME loans

已複製連結

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) arrested 13 bank employees suspected of accepting bribes to assist intermediaries in defrauding the government of HK$140 million in SME loans.

The ICAC had earlier discovered that some intermediaries were recruiting individuals to impersonate SME owners and apply for 100% government-guaranteed loans.

The ICAC said the intermediaries bribed the bank employees, instructing them to ignore forged documents and expedite loan approvals, involving a total of 28 applications.

The intermediaries would give 10 percent of the approved loan amount to the bank employees and the individuals posing as SME owners.

Last Thursday and Friday, the ICAC, together with the police, arrested 32 people, including 13 frontline bank employees working at 10 banks, and 7 employees of the intermediary companies.

The ICAC stated that after intervention, some of the approvals and funds have been intercepted.