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A forgery user and her courier were jailed by the District Court today (December 12) for forgery-related offences and conspiracy offences, an Immigration Department spokesman said today.
The forgery user, Mainland Chinese female Ye Lianying, was charged with one count of making false representation and one count of conspiracy to obtain services by deception, and was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment. The courier, Singaporean male Tan Kok Siong, was charged with one count of possession of false travel document and one count of conspiracy to obtain services by deception. He was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment.
In July 2011, the defendants were stopped by Immigration investigators near the boarding gate for a flight to India. They claimed they were lovers and upon request produced two Singaporean passports for inspection. Ye's Singaporean passport was suspected to be a counterfeit, and her own People's Republic of China passport was unearthed in a subsequent body search. Under caution, they admitted that Tan was employed by a middleman to escort Ye to the US. Forensic examination of Ye's Singaporean passport confirmed that it was a forgery.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who possesses a forged travel document commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Furthermore, under the Theft Ordinance, a person who dishonestly obtains services is, if convicted on indictment, liable to a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail.
It is also an offence to make false representation to immigration officers. Offenders are liable to prosecution and to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and the same penalties.
Ends/Monday, December 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:32
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