Third brother arrested in Hong Kong corruption probe

Sun Hung Kai is Hong Kong's biggest property developer

A third member of Hong Kong's billionaire Kwok family has been arrested as part of a high-profile corruption investigation in the city.

Sun Hung Kai Properties said that Walter Kwok had been arrested by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Thursday night.

Walter Kwok was a former chairman of the firm and the founder's eldest son.

His two younger brothers and Sun Hung Kai's joint chairmen, Thomas and Raymond Kwok, were arrested in March.

Rafael Hui, a former adviser to the company and a former high-ranking government official, was arrested by the ICAC on suspicion of bribery and misconduct at the same time as the two brothers.

None of the arrested men have been charged and all have been released on bail.

Walter Kwok was ousted as Sun Hung Kai's chairman in 2008 amid reports of a feud with his brothers.

Sun Hung Kai's board said the arrest of Walter Kwok, now a non-executive director, would not affect the normal operations of the company, which is one of the world's largest property developers.

The company has made the Kwok family one of the richest in the city.

Sun Hung Kai's shares were suspended on Friday morning and were down 2% when trading resumed in the afternoon.