Two senior officials of the Macao Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau are suspected of accepting bribes from land contractors for approving illegal alterations in building license.

Tuesday's Macao Daily reported that the Macao Commissioner Against Corruption (CAC) found a chief of department and a chief of division of the bureau suspected of accepting bribes and favors from a businessman in order to license building alterations to an "entertainment establishment" on the top floors of a commercial high-rise in the downtown area, which does not meet the legal requirements.

The crimes were allegedly committed in 2001. The department chief bought a luxury European car shortly after passing the illegal license. The division chief accepted a number of trips from a relative of one of the shareholders of the entertainment establishment's company, and held bank accounts amounting to "several million patacas" (about several hundred thousand US dollars) in Macao, Hong Kong and Switzerland. Both of the civil servants were unable to explain to the CAC investigators the origin of their wealth.

Under laws in Macao, the CAC has the power to investigate alleged corruption cases in the public administration. However, unlike Hong Kong SAR, it does not have the power to arrest or charge suspects. In such cases, the CAC transferred the cases to the Public Prosecution, which would conduct further investigations before deciding whether to file any charges and order the pretrial detention of the suspects.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2004)