HONG KONG, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of Hong Kong said Friday it has arrested 22 people and shut down a syndicate believed to be behind an 18 million HK dollars (2.32 million U.S. dollars) insurance scam.

Investigations found that a syndicate in Hong Kong allegedly recruited people, including serving and former insurance agents and doctors in Hong Kong and on the Chinese Mainland, to orchestrate injuries and accidents.

It was alleged the syndicate, with the help of the doctors, arranged to cause permanent eyesight loss to at least four Mainlanders, who were offered or promised up to 300,000 HK dollars reward each.

It allegedly used the personal data of Hong Kong people to facilitate the claims in relation to those Mainlanders, and some employees of insurance companies have allegedly been offered monetary advantages for their assistance.

At least 11 insurance companies are believed to have been victimized. The case is now under investigation by the ICAC. Enditem