18-JUN-1993 19:47
HK GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Kaiser Property Retained by ICAC
852 521 1868
P.05
Uwe Kaiser was employed by the Swire Group of companies in Hong Kong between 1975 and 1986, in the first instance as manager of Swire Air Caterers Ltd. (SACL), and subsequently as general manager/passenger services of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (CX).
and
early 1986, ICAC commenced enquiries into allegations that senior managers of SACL and CX had been engaged in the wholesale accepting of bribes from persons engaged in the supply of goods and services to the companies. Evidence to this effect was secured and, on 6 November 1986, Kaiser a number of other senior Swire managerS were arrested.
He readily admitted his part in a number of corrupt conspiracies, some of which had existed since 1978.
Inter alia, Kaiser was alleged to have accepted, as bribes, some 30 Krugerrands. Under caution, he admitted to having received 10 as bribes, and to have purchased about 25 with his own funds. He claimed his wife had taken all of the coins when she had left him some three weeks earlier following a matrimonial separation.
On 5 March 1987, a search was made of a safe deposit box maintained by Mrs. Kaiser, and from it were seized 60 Krugerrands and four French 20 franc pieces. She had, by then, left Hong Kong.
Kaiser was subsequently charged with a number of offences of corruption, and was admitted to bail pending committal
the High Court of
of Hong Kong for trial. The items seized from the deposit box were submitted as exhibits. On 16 June 1988, he failed to appear at court and enquiries revealed he had left Hong Kong clandestinely and returned το his native Germany.
Warrants for his arrest were issued and remain effective.
Efforts το secure his extradition to Hong Kong or his prosecution in Germany have thus far failed.
Having regard to Kaiser's claim that his wife had removed from their home a number of Krugerrands, of both allegedly legitimate and illegitimate origins but belonging to him in either case, efforts were made to interview Mrs. Kaiser when the case officer visited England in 1987. Contact was established with her through her brother. Mr. Klaus Kaiser,
but after arrangements had been made for a meeting, she reneged on the agreement.