A male Mainlander was charged at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts with three counts of making false representation to an Immigration Department (ImmD) staff member, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment yesterday (August 8).

     The 37-year-old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor. During his stay, the defendant submitted an application for extension of stay to the ImmD, and claimed his reason for the extension was to visit his stepfather-in-law in Hong Kong. However, when processing the application, the ImmD found that the defendant's stepfather-in-law had passed away prior to the defendant's arrival. 
 
     In the course of the investigation, the defendant admitted under caution that he used the exit endorsement by virtue of his relation to the stepfather-in-law to enter Hong Kong. In order to have his extension application approved, he declared upon the application to Immigration staff that he was to visit his stepfather-in-law in Hong Kong, even though he clearly knew that his stepfather-in-law had passed away. The defendant was subsequently charged making false representation to Immigration staff for the purpose of visit and the reason of extension. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court yesterday.

     "Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false representation to an Immigration officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years," an ImmD spokesman said.

Ends/Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:20

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