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A Hong Kong resident found in possession of two false Hong Kong Special Administrative (HKSAR) passports was jailed by the Magistrate's Court at Sha Tin today (November 14).
The 23-year-old male defendant, Ng Wai-lap, was convicted of two counts of possession of false travel documents, namely two HKSAR passports. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on each charge, sentences to run concurrently.
In April 2006, Ng was deported from France for holding two falsified HKSAR passports. Immigration investigators then took over the case for further investigation.
Ng revealed that he intended to travel to Mexico enroute to France. Upon his departure from Hong Kong, he picked up at Hong Kong airport a datebook in which two false passports were placed. On his arrival in France, Ng was searched by the French authorities. The French officials discovered the two passports in the datebook during the luggage search.
Forensic examination and verification revealed that the passports were all bio-data page forgeries.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who possesses a false travel document commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, a maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and 14 years' imprisonment.
Ends/Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 13:02
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