A goods vehicle driver has been slapped with a suspended sentence for offering $500 to a Police officer after being caught running a red light.

Wang Peng-fe, 38, was found guilty of one count of offering an advantage to a public servant and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Tuen Mun Magistracy.

Magistrate Tam Kwok-wah heard that on August 19 last year, Wang ran the red light on Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long. A Senior Police Constable intercepted Wang and asked for his ID card and driving licence.

Wang took out a $500 note and tucked it into the officer's belt saying "Don't charge me". The officer refused the bribe and arrested Wang.

When interviewed under caution at the police station, Wang said he was a new migrant to Hong Kong and did not comprehend Cantonese.

Wang also claimed that he thought the officer was asking him to pay the penalty for rushing the red traffic light on the spot. The case was referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Enquiries revealed that Wang had been issued tickets for traffic offences on a number of occasions prior to this incident, and that he understood Cantonese.