Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption has confirmed that 29 serving and former employees of five financial institutions, including four banks, were arrested for alleged bribery.
Arrested in an operation codenamed «Mirabilis», which commenced last Tuesday (December 6), were three managers and 18 serving and former direct sales representatives of a bank, a manager and five serving and former employees of three other banks, and two employees of a finance company.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) enquiries revealed that the bank managers might have accepted bribes from other arrestees as rewards for divulging confidential customer information to the latter in Hong Kong for touting personal loan business.
Among the 29 people held were three managers and 18 serving and former direct sales representatives of a bank, reported to be DBS.
Widening Investigation
The others are a manager and five serving and former employees of three other banks, and two employees of a finance company. The ICAC did not name the other specific banks and financial institutions involved but said it had rendered full assistance during its investigation. All of the arrested are out on bail.
Last week, Hong Kong tabloid newspaper Apple Daily reported that direct sales team representatives from DBS paid bribes to obtain personal data - including mobile numbers - from their superiors and passed them to mainland telemarketing centers.
All the arrestees have been released on ICAC bail and enquiries are continuing.
