*********************************************************
A female Mainlander has been jailed over a bogus marriage after appearing in the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (November 25).
The 40-year-old Mainlander, Cai Ermei, was charged with one counts of making a false representation to an Immigration officer and one count of conspiracy to defraud. She pleaded guilty to all the two charges and was sentenced to six months' jail on the first charge and eight months' jail on the second charge, both sentences to run concurrently.
The 34-year-old male defendant, Law Shu-kin, took no pleas to the five connected charges today. The case was adjourned to December 8.
On November 7, 2006, Cai presented for arrival clearance at Lo Wu control point, saying she was going to visit her resident husband Law. An Immigration control officer contacted Law for further information and when both defendants gave inconsistent information, an investigation began.
Cai admitted that she agreed to contract a bogus marriage with a Hong Kong resident at a cost of RMB5,000 in order to obtain a "T" exit endorsement to visit Hong Kong for job seeking. She contracted a bogus marriage with Law in December, 2005, and then used the bogus marriage to obtain "T" endorsement for every subsequent entry into Hong Kong.
Record checks revealed that Cai had entered Hong Kong as a visitor in December, 2005, and March and July, 2006.
"The department has been very concerned with non-Hong Kong residents obtaining stay in Hong Kong by means of bogus marriage," a department spokesman said. "A special task force has been set up to gather intelligence through various avenues and a thorough investigation will be conducted once evidence comes to light. If there is enough evidence, the department will prosecute the offenders.
"For people who have obtained their residence in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, their Hong Kong identity card and residence status will be declared invalid according to the laws of Hong Kong. They will also be subject to removal back to their place of origin," the spokesman said.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years.
It is also an offence to make a false representation to immigration officers. 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.
Anyone who makes a false declaration for the purpose of procuring a marriage shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years and to a fine.
Ends/Saturday, November 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:47
NNNN
