A chief health inspector in the Urban Services Department and his mother are accused of plotting to accept more than $1.7 million in bribes from restaurant owners in return for warning them of inspections or expediting licences.
Yu Ka-foo, 43, pleaded not guilty yesterday to 12 charges of conspiring to accept advantages between June 1992 and September last year.
Appearing in the District Court with him were his mother, Yu Mok Lai-ha, 67, and a catering consultant, Tso Wah-chung, 58, who allegedly acted as middlemen.
Yu's mother denied seven charges of conspiring to accept advantages. Tso admitted two such charges.
Prosecutor Gramsci Di Fazio said more than 15 restaurants were involved.
Neither Yu nor his mother was legally represented.
