ICAC officers investigate whether record firm took bribe

Tycoon Albert Yeung and singer Juno Mak are among those released on bail, music awards

ICAC officers are probing claims that a record company accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars to terminate the contract of a singer, sources said yesterday.

The allegation came as officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption continued to investigate the alleged bribes-for-awards scam that on Wednesday led to the arrest of 22 people, including tycoon Albert Yeung Sau-shing of the Emperor Group, singer Juno Mak Chun-lung and the president of Universal Music HK, Alex Chan Siu-po.

Mr Yeung, Juno and Mr Chan were all released on bail last night. Juno's father Clement Mak Siu-tong, who is chairman of CCT Telecom, and Lee Chun, a director of PCCW's Music Nation, were also released on bail.

Meanwhile, singer Joey Yung Cho-yee was seen driving into the ICAC compound in Queensway at about 10pm. Yung sings for the Emperor Entertainment Group.

In addition to the bribery claims about the terminated contract, anti-graft officers were still investigating allegations about preferential treatment given to several singers. Sources said those arrested from Universal Music HK and the Emperor Group were alleged to have offered advantages to senior TVB executives to ensure that hits by certain singers would be given favourable positions on the charts and to secure various musical awards given by the broadcaster.