Senior executive of button producer charged by ICAC for taking $600,000 bribes over inflated carton box purchase orders

A senior executive of a button manufacturer was charged by the ICAC today (July 15) for allegedly taking bribes of over $600,000 for placing purchase orders of carton boxes with suppliers at inflated prices, involving payments of over $1 million. A director of the suppliers had indicated to the court that he would plead guilty after being charged with offences of offering bribes earlier.

Jimmy Yu Yee-yan, 59, managing director of Tiger Button (Hong Kong) Limited (Tiger Button), faces five charges – four of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and one of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. He was released on ICAC bail, pending mention of the case at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (July 17). The prosecution will apply for transfer the case to the District Court for plea.

Nip Kam-ming, currently 71, director cum shareholder of Wang Hing Printing Company Limited (Wang Hing) and Sun Wang Hing Offset Printing Company Limited (Sun Wang Hing), was charged by the ICAC last September. He indicated at the District Court earlier that he would plead guilty to four counts of offering an advantage to an agent. Yu was charged by the ICAC today upon receipt of further advice from the Department of Justice.

Tiger Button is a manufacturer and wholesaler of buttons. It prohibits its staff members from accepting advantages in relation to the company’s business or affairs. When the offences took place between January 2020 and March 2023, Yu was responsible for Tiger Button’s daily operation, including selection of suppliers and approving purchase orders. Wang Hing and Sun Wang Hing, both suppliers of paper products, supplied carton boxes to Tiger Button for product delivery.

The four bribery charges allege that Yu accepted from Nip four bribes totalling over $600,000 for placing Tiger Button’s orders with Wang Hing and Sun Wang Hing.

The remaining charge alleges that Yu conspired with Nip to defraud Tiger Button by falsely representing that the total price of the carton boxes of Wang Hing and Sun Wang Hing ordered was over $1 million, and inducing Tiger Button to settle the payments.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Yu and Nip had allegedly reached an agreement under the table to inflate the unit price of each carton box and pay the difference to Yu for placing purchase orders involving over 50,000 carton boxes with Wang Hing and Sun Wang Hing for Tiger Button.

Tiger Button rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.