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A Korean courier and five Mainlanders involved in using false Korean passports for their trip to Dubai were jailed by the District Court today (January 22).
The five Mainlanders were Chen Jianguang, 25, Hu Yi, 21, Chen Yueyang, 23, Qi Dele, 19 and Zhou Juanxian, 16. They were each charged with one count of using a false travel document and one count of making a false representation to an Immigration officer and one count of conspiracy to obtain services by deception. They all pleaded guilty to their charges. Chen Jianguang, Hu and Qi were sentenced to jail for 12 months. Chen Yueyang and Zhou were sentenced to an effective term of 10 months and 11 months respectively.
The male Korean courier was 47-year-old Lim Jeong Bae. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain services by deception and two counts of attempting to pervert the course of public justice. He was sentenced to jail for two and half years.
In June 2006, Immigration investigators intercepted the party of six at the airline check-in counter. The five Mainland residents intended to check in for a flight to Dubai with Korean passports bearing their photos. Lim answered most of the questions for them during the check-in formalities.
Under caution, the five Mainlanders all confessed that they were of Chinese origin. They procured the false Korean passport on the Mainland intending to go to Italy to seek employment. Subsequent forensic examinations confirmed that the Korean passports were all fake.
The Korean courier asked the five Mainlanders to say that they did not know him, which was not true. Also, Lim further asked them not to admit the said conspiracy.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who uses a false travel document commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, face a maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.
It is also an offence to make a false representation to an Immigration Service member. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.
Moreover, anyone who commits an offence of obtaining services by deception would be liable to prosecution and, upon conviction to imprisonment of 10 years.
Ends/Monday, January 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:44
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