The manager director of the McDonald's chain of restaurants in Hong Kong will appear in court Tuesday charged with taking bribes from a corn supplier, the territory's anti-corruption body said.

Lau Si-sing, 47, was charged Monday with two counts of accepting kickbacks and one count of trying to pervert the course of justice, the Independent Commission Against Corruption said in a statement posted on its Web site.

Between May 2005 and April 2007, Lau allegedly conspired with the director of a corn supplier, receiving kickbacks in return for recommending, approving and placing orders with the company for the more than 200 McDonald's restaurants in Hong Kong, the commission said.

Lau allegedly received about 10 percent of the order price as a commission, it said, without providing details.

Lau is also charged with asking the food director on June 29, 2007 to tell law enforcement officials that the alleged bribes were for a joint property venture in China, the commission's statement said.

Hong Kong, a Chinese territory of 7 million people, got its first McDonald's in 1975. There are now over 200 of the fast food restaurants employing more than 10,000 people, according to McDonald's.

The anti-corruption commission said McDonald's management was cooperating fully with their investigations.

In a statement faxed to The Associated Press, McDonald's said it "does not condone illegal practices by anyone connected with the company."

It said Lau had been suspended without pay, pending the outcome of the trial.

Lau was out on bail ahead of his court appearance, the anti-corruption body said.
The manager director of the McDonald's chain of restaurants in Hong Kong will appear in court Tuesday charged with taking bribes from a corn supplier, the territory's anti-corruption body said.

Lau Si-sing, 47, was charged Monday with two counts of accepting kickbacks and one count of trying to pervert the course of justice, the Independent Commission Against Corruption said in a statement posted on its Web site.

Between May 2005 and April 2007, Lau allegedly conspired with the director of a corn supplier, receiving kickbacks in return for recommending, approving and placing orders with the company for the more than 200 McDonald's restaurants in Hong Kong, the commission said.

Lau allegedly received about 10 percent of the order price as a commission, it said, without providing details.

Lau is also charged with asking the food director on June 29, 2007 to tell law enforcement officials that the alleged bribes were for a joint property venture in China, the commission's statement said.

Hong Kong, a Chinese territory of 7 million people, got its first McDonald's in 1975. There are now over 200 of the fast food restaurants employing more than 10,000 people, according to McDonald's.

The anti-corruption commission said McDonald's management was cooperating fully with their investigations.

In a statement faxed to The Associated Press, McDonald's said it "does not condone illegal practices by anyone connected with the company."

It said Lau had been suspended without pay, pending the outcome of the trial.

Lau was out on bail ahead of his court appearance, the anti-corruption body said.