Anti-corruption police in Hong Kong have arrested 12 people, including a director of the British Broadcasting Corporation's commercial arm, over an alleged 13 million Hong Kong dollar (1.67 million US) bribery scam.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said the senior executive from BBC Worldwide had allegedly accepted illegal commissions to place orders with Hong Kong-based suppliers.
A director of a British company, which acts as the BBC's exclusive sourcing agent, was also arrested along with six senior staff and two partners at four other Hong Kong companies which supplied watches and toys to the BBC, the ICAC said in a statement seen Saturday.
Investigations found the BBC Worldwide director, along with directors from two associated companies, had allegedly accepted bribes totalling 13 million Hong Kong dollars from various suppliers between 1999 and this year.
The illegal commissions were alleged to have been received in connection with the BBC's orders for toys and watches placed with the suppliers.
An ICAC officer is currently in Britain to liaise with top BBC management into the alleged bribery offences, the statement added.
All 12 accused have been released on bail -- Hong Kong, (AFP)
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