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Chefs, meat suppliers arrested for bribery

Two directors of a meat supplier and their three employees have been arrested for allegedly offering bribes to three chefs at three restaurants.

One of the three chefs, who were also arrested, is believed to be from a fast-food chain. An associate of a chef was also arrested.

According to sources, the alleged scam had been in operation for about six months.

'Regular payments were offered to the chefs in return for orders from their restaurants,' a government source said.

'Each payment ranged from thousands of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.'

The Independent Commission Against Corruption started investigating several months ago after receiving a complaint.

The seven men and two women, aged between 30 and 60, were likely to be released on bail pending further investigation, the source said. No one has been charged. The ICAC, which would not identify any of the suspects or companies involved, confirmed that nine people were arrested on Thursday for alleged bribery in relation to poultry supplies to restaurants.

'ICAC inquiries revealed that the arrested directors and employees of the poultry company allegedly conspired to offer regular bribe payments to the three chefs,' it said.

'In return, the chefs were alleged to have placed orders with the company concerned, and connived at the supply of substandard poultry.'

The ICAC said the investigation was continuing.

In May anti-graft officers arrested 47 people in an alleged bribes-for-business scam in the food and beverage industry involving more than HK$1 million. Cooks, buyers and food suppliers have been implicated.

Seven hotels, nine restaurants and cafes, four private clubs and the food section of a department store are allegedly involved.

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