 Hong Kong former leader pleads not guilty over corruption Hong Kong (AFP) Dec 18, 2015 - Hong Kong's former leader Donald Tsang, who ended his term in disgrace after accepting favours from tycoons, pleaded not guilty to misconduct charges Friday in the latest high-profile corruption case to hit the city. Tsang, 71, held the leadership post of chief executive for seven years from 2005 and is the highest-ranking Hong Kong official to face a corruption trial. He had been under investigation by the city's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) since he left office in June 2012. Tsang is charged with two counts of misconduct in public office. Wearing his customary suit and bow-tie, Tsang spoke briefly in court, saying: "I plead not guilty" to both charges. Magistrate Jason Wan then referred the case to the High Court for trial -- a date has yet to be set. Tsang was released on bail and did not speak to reporters when he left the city's Eastern Court. The charges relate to Tsang's failure to disclose his plans to lease a luxury flat in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen which was owned by a major investor in a broadcaster seeking a licence from the Hong Kong government, the ICAC said. Tsang also failed to declare that an architect he proposed for a government award was employed as an interior designer on the flat. Tsang said previously that he had "every confidence" he would be exonerated. The case comes less than a year after Hong Kong property tycoon Thomas Kwok and the government's former deputy leader Rafael Hui were jailed for graft, following Hui being found guilty of taking bribes from Kwok and Kwok's brother Raymond. While serving as chief secretary for administration, Hui was Tsang's deputy from 2005 to 2007. Compared to the mainland, Hong Kong had been seen as relatively graft-free. But new cases in the semi-autonomous Chinese city have fuelled public suspicions over cosy links between authorities and business leaders. Concerns have also been raised about the role of the Chinese system of personal connections, or "guanxi", which greases the wheels of business.
|
The billionaire boss of one of China's largest private companies, who was last week was rumoured to be detained by authorities, has traveled to New York, his company said Friday.
The four-day disappearance of Guo Guangchang, known as China's Warren Buffett, sparked rumours that the head of Fosun had been caught in a crackdown on the financial sector.
He reappeared briefly at a corporate meeting Monday, after nervous investors drove the group's primary traded stock down by almost ten percent, but had not been seen in public since.
But now Guo has traveled to New York in connection with a real estate project, according to a statement on Fosun's official WeChat social media account.
Guo will next travel to Canada to attend a performance of Cirque du Soleil in Montreal on Monday, the company said, adding that he also planned to go to the Bahamas.
In April the company, which has sprawling interests in China and abroad, purchased a 20 percent stake in the troupe, known for its dynamic, contemporary circus performances.
The announcement of Guo's travel came shortly after respected business magazine Caijing reported that the company chairman was spotted eating dinner in Manhattan, citing a photo that appeared on Chinese social media.
"He appeared to be in good spirits", according to the accompanying post, which added that the picture was evidence that Guo had been "merely helping an investigation".
In the wake of Guo's disappearance, Fosun subsidiaries said the 48-year-old executive -- known as a loyal advocate of the ruling Communist Party -- was "assisting in certain investigations" by Chinese authorities.
The photo showed Guo sitting in what appears to be a restaurant, locked in conversation, as wait staff stand behind him. The authenticity of the photo could not be verified.
Fosun has a large real estate portfolio in Shanghai -- stronghold of former president Jiang Zemin, whose allies have been targeted by President Xi Jinping's anti-graft campaign.
Guo was linked by local media to Wang Zongnan, head of state-owned Shanghai retailer Bailian, who was given an 18-year sentence in August for embezzlement and bribery.
The Fosun chairman sold two villas to Wang's parents in 2003 at less than half their market value, according to widely circulated media reports.
Guo denied the allegations, but they have raised questions about his relationship with Wang and by extension Jiang.
dly/bdh/tm
| . |
|
|
Tweet |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
