A Hong Kong court has convicted a 48-year-old City University professor of offering a HK$1,000 (US$128) bribe to a property agent to avoid paying HK$16,000 in compensation for breaching a tenancy agreement. The case stems from a provisional deal signed in November 2022, which the professor claimed was a non-binding memorandum, a defense the court dismissed as 'incredible'.
Hong Kong's Sha Tin Court on Tuesday convicted mainland Chinese scholar Du Du of offering an advantage to a property agent under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance to evade a tenancy payout. The 48-year-old is an associate professor in City University's economics and finance department.
The trial revealed that on November 6, 2022, Du agreed through Midland Realty agent Sammi Chung Fong-chau to rent a flat in the Peak One residential complex in Tai Wai. He soon backed out, claiming the decision was made under undue influence. That same day, he sent multiple text messages to Chung, asking to settle the matter 'as a friend' and offering HK$1,000 to avoid the HK$16,000 compensation.
Du claimed he only meant to reimburse the agent and believed the agreement was a non-binding memorandum. Magistrate Joseph To Ho-shing rejected this as 'incredible' and found him guilty of offering an advantage to the agent. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigated the case, with prosecutor Jeffrey Sze Cho-yiu appearing in court. Du will be sentenced at a later date.
The case highlights bribery risks in Hong Kong's rental disputes, with the court underscoring the legal binding nature of provisional agreements.
