ICAC chief Simon Peh in U-turn on liaison office meal

The Independent Commission Against Corruption was plunged further into controversy yesterday as it was revealed there were more unreported receptions and expenditures by its current and former commissioners.

It was earlier revealed that former commissioner Timothy Tong Hin-ming hosted 20 receptions with the central government's liaison office during his five-year tenure.

Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu, when asked on Thursday whether he had had "any meal" with liaison office officials, said: "For the nine to 10 months I have been in office, I have not had meals with [officials of] the liaison office, nor have I sent any gifts to them."

But yesterday, the commission admitted the liaison office had treated Peh and five directors to a dinner in November. A liaison office official also attended a reception hosted by the commission in February, it said.

The statement said Peh's earlier denial meant only that he did not use public money to treat liaison office officials.

Peh told the South China Morning Post last night that he was not deliberately concealing anything. "When you asked me [at that time], I had forgotten [about the] meal. I immediately clarified after I looked at my records and found there was such a meal," he said.