Hong Kong authorities arrest 20 allegedly involved in faking roadworthiness test results
- Those held include 10 staff members of designated car testing centre in New Territories and four proprietors of three garages
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency has arrested 20 people over their suspected involvement in a bribery scheme that enabled 20 private cars per month to pass an annual vehicle examination with falsified test results.
The arrested were all males, aged between 27 and 69, and included 10 staff members of a designated car testing centre in the New Territories, four proprietors of three garages and four middlemen, according to David Williams, principal investigator of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Williams said the arrested were accused of faking emission test results to help private cars renew their vehicle licences, with the garage staff receiving HK$2,000 (US$256) to HK$3,000 from each car owner, far above the standard exam fee of only HK$580.
“The current investigation arose from corruption complaints alleging that staff of the testing centre had accepted favours from garage proprietors or middlemen, to facilitate passing private cars that did not meet the required standard of the vehicle examination,” he said.
The arrested staff of the centre are “four responsible persons” and six approved car testers. Authorities also conducted searches at multiple locations and 10 private cars were seized, the investigator said.
Under the Road Traffic Ordinance, all private cars older than six years must undergo an annual vehicle examination at the designated test centres and receive a certificate of roadworthiness to renew the vehicle licence.
