A former police officer, Mak Kwok-hung, has been charged with multiple offenses, including corruption and fraud, after allegedly borrowing money without permission from a subject of an investigation. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) brought the case against him, which was heard today (April 11) at the Eastern Magistrates' Court. The court added 30 new charges to the existing allegations.
Mak, 50, is accused of soliciting and receiving a bribe of HK$100,000 from a victim of an investment scam, providing assistance during the police investigation while concealing debts to apply for a delayed retirement from the police force. He also allegedly defrauded several financial institutions, securing loans totaling over HK$2.4 million.
The charges stem from an incident in which Mak accepted a loan of HK$15,000 from a subject involved in a previously investigated theft case without the necessary approval from the Chief Executive. He had initially been charged last November with one count of accepting an advantage as a person in public office, violating Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Following further legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC added 30 new charges today, which were approved by Magistrate Leung Nga-yan. The case has been adjourned until April 29 for a plea in the District Court, with Mak granted bail.
The new charges include one count of accepting an advantage as a public servant, violating Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; one count of using documents to deceive his principal, violating Section 9(3) of the same ordinance; and 28 counts of fraud, violating Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
At the time of the offenses, Mak was stationed in a criminal investigation team in the Central District. In late July 2021, three victims of an investment scam reported the case to the police under Mak's guidance. He later solicited a loan from one of the complainants. One of the charges alleges that from July 2021 to August 2023, he received HK$100,000 from the complainant as a reward for providing assistance and insider information during the investigation.
The additional 28 counts allege that between December 2017 and April 2023, Mak concealed personal debts while applying for loans from the Hong Kong Police Savings Cooperative and 13 financial companies, defrauding them of 28 loans totaling over HK$2.4 million, ranging from HK$20,000 to HK$530,000 each.
Further charges indicate that in April 2021, Mak submitted a misleading application to the police to join the "Continued Service of Police Officers Beyond Prescribed Retirement Age Scheme," using a false declaration form to mislead the department about his financial status, falsely claiming he had no outstanding debts. This program allows eligible non-chief police officers to extend their retirement age to 60, with financial status being a crucial factor in the approval process.
At the time of his application for delayed retirement, Mak is alleged to have owed over HK$910,000 to the Hong Kong Police Savings Cooperative and nine financial companies.
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