The Independent Commission Against Corruption has arrested 17 people, including six Water Supplies Department staff, for alleged bribery relating to water meter applications for residential and commercial buildings.

The department staff were two senior waterworks inspectors, two waterworks inspectors, and two assistant waterworks inspectors. Eight licensed plumbers, two company directors and an electrician were also arrested.

One of the arrested plumbers allegedly acted as a middleman for the department inspectors, regularly collecting bribes from a number of licensed plumbers. The bribes were allegedly offered to the inspectors for expediting the approval of meter applications and for lax supervision on suspected substandard works.

The department has rendered full assistance to the ICAC investigation, and inquiries are continuing.