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Two Hong Kong residents were convicted in the District Court today (July 5) of aiding and abetting three Mainland residents to make false representation to an Immigration Assistant and facilitating their journey to London using other identities.
An Immigration spokesman said the case was adjourned to August 11, 2006, for background report and sentencing. Both defendants were remanded in custody.
Defendants Hung Kong-nam, 31, and Cheng Yung, 39, were jointly charged with three counts of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring three Mainland residents to make false representation as to their destination as Bangkok, three counts of conspiracy to defraud, three counts of possession of forged Hong Kong identity card and three counts of possession false instrument. They were convicted on all charges after a District Court trial.
Immigration investigators spotted five people -the two defendants and three Mainland residents - exchanging something inside the transit lounge at Hong Kong International Airport in August 2004. The three Mainland residents each had a genuine Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport, a forged Hong Kong Identity Card with their photos, a boarding pass for London and a forged credit card. The names shown on the documents were not those of the Mainland residents.
Hung told investigators he was going to London for sightseeing and he did not know the other four members of the party. Cheng stated that he was entrusted by a friend to accompany the three Mainland residents to Bangkok for sightseeing. He said he did not know Hung.
Immigration investigators found a former travel agent who said Cheng had asked him to book two sets of air tickets to London and Bangkok. Airline staff positively identified Hung during an identity parade saying that Hung had checked in for the flight for London with the three Mainland residents who had HKSAR passports.
The three Mainland residents were each charged with one count of possession of forged Identity Card and one count of making false representation regarding their destination. They all pleaded guilty in August 2004 and two were sentenced to six months' imprisonment and the third jailed to five months' imprisonment.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who makes false representation to an Immigration Service member commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.
Anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable to prosecution and upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years.
Anyone who, possesses a forged identity card is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 10 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.
Anyone who has in his custody a false instrument commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for three years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.
Ends/Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:42
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