Honeywell Limited's former financial controller a has been extradited from the US to Hong Kong to face prosecution for allegedly accepting bribes totalling $9.6 million.

Grace Chan Seong-i, 45, formerly employed by the US-based electronic products manufacturer, was arrested in New Mexico on October 16, 2002, at Hong Kong's request.

Accompanied by two ICAC officers, Chan boarded a flight in Los Angeles and arrived in Hong Kong this morning.

Chan was charged with three counts of agent accepting an advantage under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and brought to Eastern Magistracy this afternoon.

Case adjourned to September 9

No plea was taken. Magistrate Mr David Thomas adjourned the case until September 9 for transfer to District Court.

Chan was granted cash bail of $1 million. She was ordered to surrender all travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, reside at the reported address, and report to the Police four times a week.

The charges alleged that between August 4 and October 27, 1994, Chan had accepted a total of $9.6 million from two design consultant company partners.

Alleged bribes rewards for obtaining decoration projects

The alleged bribes were said to be rewards for Chan assisting the design consultant company in obtaining decoration projects from Honeywell or its affilitated companies, and obtaining payments for those projects.

Chan left Hong Kong on July 21, 1995, before the ICAC started an investigation, and was subsequently found residing in New Mexico. On December 19, 2001, a Hong Kong court issued a warrant for her arrest.

On December 31, 2001, the Department of Justice made a formal request to the US for the surrender of Chan.

Since Police in New Mexico arrested her on October 16, 2002, Chan had been facing extradition proceedings.

On June 14 this year, a District Court judge in New Mexico ruled that Chan had to be surrendered. Yesterday, Chan was extradited from the US to Hong Kong.