Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)

Hong Kong charges ex-legislator Chim Pui-chung, his son for fraud and a businesswoman for money laundering

Chim Pui-chung and his son Ricky Chim Kim-lun were charged with conspiring to commit fraud, a businesswoman Wong Poe-lai was charged for money laundering, ICAC said

The Chims were released on HK$2 million bail each, Wong’s bail was set at HK$200,000

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The headquarters of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in North Point, on 26 August 2016. Photo: Felix Wong.

Published: 5:38pm, 19 Nov 2021Updated: 10:39am, 20 Nov 2021

Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog arrested a retired lawmaker and his son and charged them with fraud for transactions related to a publicly listed company almost a decade ago.

A businesswoman linked to the case was also charged.

Chim Pui-chung, the two-term former Legislative Councillor, was charged with conspiring to defraud shareholders by concealing a back door listing agreement for Asia Resources Holdings between 2013 and 2015. His son Ricky Chim Kim-lun, 52, was also charged with fraud, while the businesswoman Wong Poe-lai, 65, was charged with money laundering, according to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Friday.

The Chims were released on HK$2 million bail each, while Wong’s bail was set at HK$200,000 by the acting Principal Magistrate Jason Wan Siu-ming at the Sha Tin Magistrate’s Court. The trio were ordered to surrender their travel documents, observe a travel ban, report to police once a week and stay away from all prosecution witnesses.

The case will be heard on February 28 next year, when all proceedings will be merged with a fourth defendant, Ma Zhonghong, a 48-year-old merchant, who was charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud and one of money laundering over the same plot. Ma was denied bail as he has already been remanded in custody on a separate charge of illegally entering Hong Kong in June.

Chim Pui-chung announced his post-retirement comeback when he threw his hat into the ring as candidate for the Western District during the 2016 Legislative Council election on June 6, 2016. Photo: Dickson Lee