A 44-year-old man has been jailed for two years for offering $65,000 to a Police sergeant in return for tip-offs about impending raids at vice establishments in Mongkok.

Chan Hon-shing today pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to a public servant at the District Court.

Judge Stephen Geiser ordered a second charge alleging Chan of living on earnings of prostitution be left on the court's file.

In sentencing, the judge said he had to impose a custodial sentence in view of the seriousness of the offence, which hindered and frustrated police enforcement action.

The judge added that a starting point of three years was reduced to two years after taking into account the defendant's guilty plea.

The defendant had worked as a pimp escorting prostitutes from the Mainland to provide sexual services at various vice establishments in Mongkok. He was introduced by a friend to a Police sergeant.

In August 2003, the defendant agreed to make regular bribe payments to the sergeant on the Mainland or in Hong Kong in exchange for advance information on police anti-vice operations in Mongkok.

The defendant paid the sergeant a monthly bribe of $8,000 in the first few months. The payment was later reduced to $2,000-$4,000 a month.

Between August 1, 2003 and May 3, 2004, the defendant had offered bribe payments totalling $65,000 to the sergeant.

On May 3, 2004, the defendant and the sergeant were arrested by the ICAC in connection with various corruption and vice-related offences.

While on bail, the defendant failed to report to the ICAC, and fled to the Mainland. A warrant for his arrest was subsequently issued by a magistrate.

Earlier this year, the defendant informed the ICAC that he was ready to surrender himself. He was later intercepted at Lo Wu control point.