Peter Fitzroy Godber
Encyclopedia
Peter Fitzroy Godber (born 7 April 1922 in London) was Kowloon's Deputy District Commissioner of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force
and was caught in a bribery scandal after his retirement in 1973. He fled Hong Kong (to England and then Australia), but he was later captured and sent back to Hong Kong for trial. He served four years in jail for his actions.
Before his downfall on corruption charges, Godber had been regarded as a brave and effective senior police officer who played a leading role in restoring order during the major disturbances of 1966
-1967 and who was decorated for his efforts. At this time, inspired by the Chinese government, Communists in Hong Kong tried to bring down the colonial administration. Hong Kong was subject to bomb attacks, riots and violence against those regarded by the Communists as opposing re-unification. A number of Hong Kong policemen were killed by bombs and attacks in the streets.
Godber was a senior officer stationed at Wanchai police station and later at Kai Tak Airport
police station. Before his retirement in 1973, he had amassed no less than 4.3 million Hong Kong Dollars (approximately 600,000 US Dollars) in his overseas bank accounts. The police anti-corruption branch investigated his mysterious wealth and ordered him to explain his source of income. In response, Godber immediately arranged for his wife to leave the colony, then he used his police airport pass to bypass immigration and passport checks and walked onto a plane for London. Godber's escape led to a large public outcry over the integrity of the police's self-investigations and called for reforms in the government's anti-corruption efforts. he was arrested on 24 April 1974 in England and extradited to Hong Kong on 7 January 1975. Trial began on 17 February and ended on 25 February (lasted seven days). He was convicted of corruption and sentenced to four years in prison plus confiscation of 25,000 HKD.
His conviction and other corruption activities in Hong Kong in the 1970s lead to the creation of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
in 1974.
He now resides in Spain.
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...
and was caught in a bribery scandal after his retirement in 1973. He fled Hong Kong (to England and then Australia), but he was later captured and sent back to Hong Kong for trial. He served four years in jail for his actions.
Before his downfall on corruption charges, Godber had been regarded as a brave and effective senior police officer who played a leading role in restoring order during the major disturbances of 1966
Hong Kong 1966 riots
The Hong Kong 1966 Riots was a series of disturbances that took place over three nights on the streets of Kowloon, Hong Kong in the spring of 1966...
-1967 and who was decorated for his efforts. At this time, inspired by the Chinese government, Communists in Hong Kong tried to bring down the colonial administration. Hong Kong was subject to bomb attacks, riots and violence against those regarded by the Communists as opposing re-unification. A number of Hong Kong policemen were killed by bombs and attacks in the streets.
Godber was a senior officer stationed at Wanchai police station and later at Kai Tak Airport
Kai Tak Airport
Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. It was officially known as the Hong Kong International Airport from 1954 to 6 July 1998, when it was closed and replaced by the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, 30 km to the west...
police station. Before his retirement in 1973, he had amassed no less than 4.3 million Hong Kong Dollars (approximately 600,000 US Dollars) in his overseas bank accounts. The police anti-corruption branch investigated his mysterious wealth and ordered him to explain his source of income. In response, Godber immediately arranged for his wife to leave the colony, then he used his police airport pass to bypass immigration and passport checks and walked onto a plane for London. Godber's escape led to a large public outcry over the integrity of the police's self-investigations and called for reforms in the government's anti-corruption efforts. he was arrested on 24 April 1974 in England and extradited to Hong Kong on 7 January 1975. Trial began on 17 February and ended on 25 February (lasted seven days). He was convicted of corruption and sentenced to four years in prison plus confiscation of 25,000 HKD.
His conviction and other corruption activities in Hong Kong in the 1970s lead to the creation of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong)
The Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong was established by Governor Murray MacLehose on 15 February 1974, when Hong Kong was under British rule. Its main aim was to clean up endemic corruption in the many departments of the Hong Kong Government through law enforcement,...
in 1974.
He now resides in Spain.