The top immigration official for the West African republic of Sierra Leone pocketed US$540,000 (HK$4.1 million) from an undercover ICAC officer in exchange for three of the country's diplomatic passports, a court heard yesterday.
Solomon Dominic Musa, 45, was arrested in what is believed to be the first corruption case involving the alleged sale of diplomatic passports in Hong Kong.
Musa, described as the principal immigration officer of the Sierra Leone Government, was arrested at a hotel in Central after the alleged incident on Wednesday.
He is facing a single charge in Eastern Court under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance of accepting the payment 'without lawful authority or excuse' in return for providing the passports.
Sierra Leone, a former British colony which has been independent since 1961, has not had a consulate in Hong Kong since the handover. It has an embassy in Beijing.
Musa was not asked to enter a plea to the charge yesterday and was remanded in custody.
A senior inspector with the Customs and Excise Department also appeared at the court in a case arising from the same investigation.
