Then bank employee charged by ICAC in court for allegedly accepting bribes from intermediary over accounts opening

A then bank employee appeared in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts this morning (February 20) for mention after being charged by the ICAC for allegedly accepting RMB500 in bribe for each client referred by an intermediary in successfully opening a bank account.

Pan Xiuzhen, 30, former relationship manager of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (Standard Chartered Bank), faced one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

No plea was taken when the defendant appeared in court today. The case was adjourned to April 17 for mention and the defendant was granted bail.

At the material time, the defendant was posted to a branch of Standard Chartered Bank in Central. Her duties included assisting new clients in opening bank accounts.

The charge alleged that between November 2023 and April 2024, the defendant had accepted from an intermediary a bribe of RMB500 for each bank account successfully opened with Standard Chartered Bank for clients referred by the intermediary.

The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that at the material time, the defendant had allegedly assisted 16 clients referred by the intermediary to open bank accounts successfully and accepted bribes totalling RMB8,000.

Standard Chartered Bank rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Benny Chang.