A former police officer-turned-jade trader who allegedly sought to bribe three apprentice jockeys with $1 million was granted bail in Western Court yesterday.
Ng Siu-chau, 33, detained since his arrest by the ICAC on Monday, was able to raise $500,000 in cash bail, said barrister Paul Dinan, defending.
Magistrate Ian Candy approved his application, saying there was no reason why he should be detained further.
But Ng was last night still in detention as his guarantor, Wong Kam-chuen, forgot to bring to court any proof that he has $1 million.
Mr Candy gave permission for Ng and Mr Wong to reappear in court this morning to complete the surety process.
Ng was ordered to surrender all travel documents and report to the Sheung Shui police station three times a week after his release.
Senior government counsel Robert Lee yesterday said they would need two more weeks to interview another 17 witnesses, most of them jockeys, to consolidate the case. Mr Candy granted an adjournment to August 1.