A Lands Department officer and a fishpond operator and his wife, charged by the ICAC for alleged bribery and fraud over ex-gratia compensation for a land resumption exercise, appeared in Fanling Magistracy today.

Land Inspector Man Sun-ming, 46, denied accepting an advantage, while Lai Hung-kei, 67, denied offering an advantage, and his wife Kan Yau-choi, 45, denied one count of forgery. The case was adjourned to February 27 for a pre-trial review.

The defendants were arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry last July. Man is alleged to have accepted a $120,000 loan from Lai without permission. Lai faces one count of offering the loan to Man without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

Lai is also alleged to have used 91 false vouchers from two fishmongers, a rice shop and a fish fry company, with the intention of inducing officers of the North District Lands Office to accept them as genuine.

It is alleged that the false vouchers purportedly evidenced tenancy and rental agreements in relation to a number of fishponds, as well as business transactions between Lai, the fishmongers and the fish fry company.

The remaining charge alleges Kan made 43 false vouchers. The alleged offences took place between February 2002 and last June.

The defendants have been granted cash bail of $10,000.