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Tsuen Wan Court on Monday accepted a guilty plea from suspended chief inspector Ho Siu-tung, 40, on four corruption- charges linked to his dealings with businessman Qu Haipeng between August 2021 and January 2023, the South China Morning Post reported.

A charge against his wife, Mishell Ho Yin-veng, for aiding and abetting a public servant in accepting advantages was also left on the court file.

Ho met Qu in June 2021 after the businessman reported losing US$17 million in a scam involving three suspects. He later learned Qu had been arrested three months prior in connection with an alleged assault case in Wan Chai District.

In Aug. 2021, Ho instructed a junior officer to terminate the assault investigation and lift Qu’s bail without obtaining approval from a superintendent, violating police procedures.

The pair later met for dinner, where Ho spoke about working long hours as his family’s sole breadwinner and arguments with his wife over luxury handbags. Qu then withdrew HK$500,000 and handed it to the former officer.

Qu subsequently provided cash and gifts to Ho and his wife, including a Chanel handbag worth HK$34,600, a red packet containing HK$50,000, children’s clothing and a HK$500,000 “loan” that was never repaid. He also arranged medical support for Ho’s mother.

In Feb. 2022, Ho leaked confidential information about three fraud suspects to Qu, including their mainland Chinese passport numbers and birth dates.

Between May and October 2022, Ho obtained a court order to seize documents and searched a company to assist Qu’s friend in a contractual dispute. The investigation was later terminated at Qu’s request.

After being arrested by the country’s Independent Commission Against Corruption in Mar. 2023, Ho admitted to receiving children’s clothing from Qu as “gifts of friendship” and acknowledged he had failed to declare them.

Ho is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26.