Turmoil at ICAC after principal investigator becomes second departure in days from Hong Kong graft-buster

Turmoil at the top of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency has intensified with the resignation of a ­senior investigator just days after its top frontline graft-fighter was removed without explanation.

The departure of long-serving Independent Commission Against Corruption investigator Dale Ko – also without any meaningful official explanation – has sparked calls for a special Legislative Council probe and raised fears that the reputation of the four-decades-old law enforcement body could be damaged beyond repair.

An ICAC spokeswoman confirmed on Tuesday that principal investigator Ko had resigned and said his departure would be handled “in accordance with usual procedures”.

Ko’s decison to quit comes less than a week after the acting head of the organisation’s powerful investigative unit, Rebecca Li Bo-lan, was removed by ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu less than a year after he appointed her.

The double blow to the agency’s key operations department has caused deep concern among the ranks of serving anti-graft investigators and fears among former veterans long-serving ex-officers about the long-term future of the internationally respected body.

One retired senior investigator, who served with the commission for 25 years and worked closely with Li, said he was astounded at the developments.