The prolonged corruption scandal involving an insider at Hong Kong International Airport has reached its final conclusion. A 45-year-old suspect, identified as Xu, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after accepting HK$18,000 in bribes, which triggered a 15-year period of evading justice. Xu previously served as a customer service officer for Cathay Pacific.

Between September 2008 and August 2009, Xu used his position to collaborate with ground staff in collusion with a "human smuggling" syndicate. The term "human smuggling" refers to travelers lacking legal exit permits who attempted to leave the country illegally. He expedited check-in procedures and disclosed security screening details to help these individuals circumvent official oversight, charging each person between HK$1,000 and HK$2,000 in "facilitation fees," totaling HK$18,000.

After being apprehended in 2009, Xu was granted bail during the investigation but subsequently fled out of fear. He voluntarily returned to Hong Kong in July of last year to surrender. On July 29, Xu pleaded guilty in court. In addition to his prison term, he is required to repay all bribe money to Cathay Pacific. The four other ground staff members and members of the smuggling syndicate had already been sentenced to between 14 and 20 months in prison back in February 2011.