Hong Kong McDonald's head manager charged with taking bribes

Hong Kong McDonald’s managing director is charged with taking bribes form local food supplier.

Lau Si-sing, 47, faced two counts of accepting kickbacks from the food company and one count of trying to pervert the course of justice, according to court documents seen by The Associated Press. Lau was released on HK$500,000 (US$64,000; EUR 43,898) bail and ordered to appear before the court again on Jan. 8, the documents said.

Between May 2005 and April 2007, Lau allegedly conspired with the director of the Thai food company, receiving kickbacks in return for placing orders of corn for McDonald's restaurants in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, Hong Kong's International Commission Against Corruption had said.

Lau allegedly received about 10 percent of the order price in gifts, loans, cash and other incentives, it said, without providing details.

Lau is also charged with asking the food director on June 29, 2007, to tell law enforcement officials that the alleged bribes were for a joint property venture in China, the commission's statement said.

Hong Kong, a Chinese territory of 7 million people, got its first McDonald's in 1975. It now has over 200 of the fast food restaurants employing more than 10,000 people, according to McDonald's.

The anti-corruption commission said McDonald's management was cooperating fully with their investigations.

In a statement faxed to The Associated Press, McDonald's said it "does not condone illegal practices by anyone connected with the company."

It said Lau had been suspended without pay, pending the outcome of any trial.