CCAC | No evidence against fund member sacked by Alexis Tam

The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) revealed yesterday that it has found no evidence to prove that Chao Son U, a former member of the Cultural Industries Fund administrative committee, had committed any illegal actions. A probe was launched into the granting of a subsidy to a company owned by Mr Chao’s relatives. CCAC has decided to shelve the case.
“The CCAC agreed on concluding the inquiry, as there is no sign or evidence showing that the then member of the administrative board committed any illegal or irregular acts in the handling and approval process of a subsidy application relating to his relatives’ [company],” Macau’s anti-graft agency said in a statement released yesterday.
The corruption watchdog also found no evidence to support reports that “someone exerted influence with his colleagues during the inquiry procedure.” “According to the findings of this investigation, there is no evidence supporting that allegation,” CCAC stressed.
The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, sacked Mr Chao last week following his alleged involvement in the granting of a subsidy to a company owned by his relatives.
Mr Tam said in a statement that he hoped the sacking would help improve the fund’s credibility. “The immediate termination of duties is intended to maintain the public’s trust in the fund. The future appointment of a civil servant to the post is a way to show trust in the civil servants’ team,” he said.
Mr Tam deemed it “a serious case” and said that his cabinet could not handle an investigation and therefore called upon CCAC to handle the case.
Radio Macau reported yesterday that it had contacted Mr Tam’s cabinet but he is yet to comment on CCAC’s findings. CP