HONG KONG: The former managing director of McDonald's Hong Kong, Joseph Lau Si-sing, was sentenced to 53 months imprisonment and ordered to repay his former employer HK$2.3 million he accepted from suppliers as bribes. The ruling on corruption charges was handed down in District Court yesterday.

Lau, 49, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He was accused of asking a supplier to lie to the anti-graft watchdog. He also faced one count of conspiracy to accept unlawful advantages.

Deputy District Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng said when delivering his sentence that Lau's conduct, which took place over a period of two years, had breached integrity.

During a trip to Macao in 2005, Lau, who joined the restaurant chain in 2004, suggested the owner of Siam Ready food company, Pornthep Srisa-An, pay him 10 percent on the value of every order the restaurant chain placed with the company, the court was told.

Lau received HK$2.5 million between December 2005 and April 2007 as kickbacks in return for corn purchases amounting to HK$25 million which McDonald's bought from Siam Ready.

Lau later asked Pornthep to lie to the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigators, telling officers he had given the money to Lau to invest in property on the mainland, the court heard earlier.

Counsel representing Lau in a mitigation submission noted that Lau had worked hard after starting out as an apprentice at other companies to become the top manager for the restaurant chain. Counsel added, Lau's behavior had not affected the quality of food.

A spokesman for the restaurant chain said the company respects the court's judgment, and stressed that this is an isolated incident involving one individual.

(HK Edition 05/07/2009 page1)