ICAC’s former acting operations head joins private investigative firm
Rebecca Li, whose departure from the ICAC last year sparked an uproar, joins Berkeley Research to help companies crack down on corruption
The former acting head of operations for Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Rebecca Li Bo-lan – whose departure from the anti-graft agency last year sparked controversy – on Monday joined commercial investigative firm Berkeley Research Group.
Berkeley, an investigative firm set up in California seven years ago, entered the Asia market two years ago with Hong Kong as its regional headquarters. It conducts due diligence on behalf of investment banks for merger deals and initial public offering candidates, providing background checks on any suspected fraud and corruption.
Li was appointed a director in the firm’s global investigations and strategic intelligence practice with responsibility to help companies look into corruption and prevent such malpractice.
She was with the ICAC for 30 years and climbed to the top of the organisation ranks as the first female acting head of operations, but her departure in July 2016 sparked controversy. Suspicions were raised about whether Li’s departure was linked to an investigation into Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who received HK$50 million from an Australian engineering firm before becoming the city’s leader.
Speaking with the South China Morning Post before her appointment on Monday, Li declined to talk about her departure from the ICAC, preferring to focus on her new role.
“My previous experience at the ICAC would be valuable to help companies identify if they have corruption problems and to establish anti-bribery systems to prevent corruption,” she said.