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Two male Hong Kong residents and a Filipina received jail sentences at the Sha Tin Magistracies' Court today (February 6) for conspiracy to arrange false domestic helper contracts, an Immigration spokesman said.
Ching Hiu Ming, 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to make false representation to an Immigration officer, one count of conspiracy to make a false instrument and one count of transfer to another without reasonable excuse a travel document. He was jailed for four months on each charge, sentences to run concurrently.
Wong Kam Man, 35, was charged with one count of conspiracy to make false representation to an Immigration officer. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment.
The 39-year-old foreign domestic helper CANCERAN Gemma Viernes pleaded guilty to one count of making false representation to an Immigration officer. She was jailed for three months.
In April 2005, a Mainlander possessing a genuine Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport and some forged Hong Kong travel documents was intercepted by the Mainland authority upon his departure for Hong Kong. Based on the information provided by the Mainland authority, Immigration investigators intercepted Ching.
Ching admitted he had asked a Mainlander to make three forged HKSAR passports and three forged Hong Kong identity cards. The forged documents would be given to the friends of his Philippines girlfriend CANCERAN. Moreover, he also transferred his own HKSAR passport to the Mainlander for arranging telephone account in the Mainland.
CANCERAN was Ching's former domestic helper. Ching conspired with CANCERAN and her bogus employers to sign false contracts to extend CANCERAN's stay in Hong Kong. Wong admitted to have acted as CANCERAN's bogus employer.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, it is an offence to transfer any travel document to another person without reasonable excuse. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Those aiding and abetting such crimes are liable to the same penalty.
It is also an offence to make a false representation to an Immigration officer. 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.
Ends/Monday, February 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:34
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