Breaking | Review: The verdicts are out in explosive graft trial of Hui, Kwoks
The jury has returned the long-awaited verdicts in the biggest graft trial in Hong Kong's history that exposed the close connections between government and the business sector.
The jury in the biggest graft trial in Hong Kong's history has returned the long-awaited verdicts on former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan and Sun Hung Kai Properties co-chairmen Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, and two others, on the 128th day of the explosive trial that exposed family feuds in the billionaire family and the close connections between government and the business sector.
Count one: misconduct in a public office
Defendant: Rafael Hui
Details: Prosecution alleged Hui failed to disclose acceptance of a HK$2.4 million unsecured loan; rent free use of two luxury units and his negotiation of consultancy agreement with Sun Hung Kai Properties while he was managing director of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority.
Verdict: Guilty
Count two: conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office
Defendants: Rafael Hui, Thomas Kwok
Details: Prosecution alleged Hui received HK$5 million from Thomas Kwok, before he took up the No 2 government office in June 2005, without reasonable excuse, and was or remained favourably disposed to SHKP.
Verdict: Rafael Hui - Not Guilty; Thomas Kwok - Not Guilty
Count three: conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office
Defendants: Rafael Hui, Raymond Kwok
Details: Prosecution alleged Hui received HK$4.125 million from Kwok, before he took up the No 2 government office in June 2005, without reasonable excuse, and was or remained favourably disposed to SHKP.
Verdict: Rafael Hui - Not Guilty; Raymond Kwok - Not Guilty
Count four: furnishing false information
Defendants: Rafael Hui, Raymond Kwok
Details: Prosecution alleged the pair furnished information on an invoice dishonestly stating a HK$4.125 million bribe as a bonus.
Verdict: Rafael Hui - Not Guilty; Raymond Kwok - Not Guilty
Count five: conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office
Defendants: Rafael Hui, Thomas Kwok, Raymond Kwok, Thomas Chan, Francis Kwan
Details: Prosecution alleged the Kwok brothers transferred HK$8.5 million worth of bribery payments to Rafael Hui in the months leading up to his appointment as chief secretary of Hong Kong in order for him to be Sun Hung Kai Properties' eyes and ears in government. A part of the alleged bribe was paid on the same day he took the appointment oath before chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen. The bribes were allegedly funneled via SHKP executive director Thomas Chan Kui-yuen and ex-stock exchange official Francis Kwan Hung-sang.
Verdict: Raymond Kwok - Not Guilty; remaining are Guilty
Count six: misconduct in public office
Defendant: Rafael Hui
Details: Prosecution allegedl Hui concealed from government the provision and annual extensions of an unsecured HK$3 million loan granted by a subsidiary of Sun Hung Kai Properties when he was chief secretary.
Verdict: Guilty
Count seven: conspiracy to offer an advantage to a public servant
Rafael Hui, Thomas Kwok, Raymond Kwok, Thomas Chan, Francis Kwan
Details: Prosecution alleged Thomas Kwok and Raymond Kwok allegedly bribed Hui, a non-official member of the Executive Council, with HK$11.182 million between 2007 and 2009, for him to be or remain favourably disposed to Sun Hung Kai Properties. The alleged bribes were funnelled via Thomas Chan and Francis Kwan.
Verdict: Rafael Hui - Guilty; Raymond and Thomas Kwok - Not Guilty; Thomas Chan - Guilty; Francis Kwan - Guilty
Count eight: misconduct in public office
Defendants: Rafael Hui
Details: Prosecution alleged Rafael Hui concealed from the government the HK$11.182 million worth of bribes he allegedly received from the Kwoks, Chan and Kwan between 2007 and 2009.
Verdict: Guilty