An event held at Macau’s City of Dreams casino resort last year to celebrate the anniversary of Hong Kong television station TVB Jade has been caught up in an anti-graft investigation.
The South China Morning Post reported today that TVB executive and programme host Stephen Chan Chi-wan was arrested by Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption yesterday.
Mr Chan and four other people are suspected of working simultaneously in an advertising and production company that arranged paid public appearances for TVB artists.
One allegation relates to a variety show in Macau in October last year that featured TVB Jade singers celebrating the broadcaster’s 42nd anniversary.
‘All Singers For TVB Anniversary Special 2009′ featured a red carpet event at City of Dreams’ Grand Hyatt Macau and included Cantonese stars such as Eason Chan.
There is no suggestion of impropriety or illegal behaviour by management or staff at City of Dreams or by the celebrities including Eason Chan.
The SCMP reports that Hong Kong’s Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, makes it an offence for anyone to accept a pecuniary advantage without the authority of his or her employer. The penalty is a maximum fine of HK$500,000 (US$64,500) and seven years’ imprisonment.
