A businessman from Taiwan was sentenced to three-month imprisonment Friday at the Eastern Magistracy in Hong Kong for offering an advantage to a police officer who interviewed him in relation to a police investigation.

Chen Chih-chung, 52, charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), pleaded guilty Friday to one count of offering 30,000 HK dollars (US$about 3,871) to a police constable while having dealing with the Hong Kong Special Administrative government through the police, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

In sentencing, Magistrate Ian Candy said the court had taken into consideration the defendant's guilty plea and that he was not familiar with the law of Hong Kong.

The court heard that the defendant attended the Commercial Crime Bureau office of the Police respectively in December last year and January 2006 in relation to one of the bureau's investigations.

On Feb. 16, 2006, the defendant attended another interview at the bureau office. He was told that the police inquiry had come to an end and legal advice would be sought.

After the interview, the defendant gave the police constable a piece of paper, which read "to express my appreciation, can you accept my 30,000 HK dollars?"

The police constable refused his offer and reported the incident to his superiors. The case was referred to the ICAC for investigation.

The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers on the same day. When interviewed under caution, the defendant admitted that he had offered the money to the officer to express his gratitude.

The prosecution on Friday was represented by a court prosecutor, assisted by ICAC officer Wong Wai-kit.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2006)