Hong Kong resident jailed for conspiracy to defraud
A Hong Kong male resident charged with three counts of conspiracy to defraud was convicted and sentenced to 22 months' imprisonment by Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (July 15).
During the follow-up investigation on a case of a bogus marriage middleman by the Outside Investigation Section of the Immigration Department (ImmD), the 63-year-old defendant was found to have contracted marriages with three Mainland residents respectively from 2004 to 2013. Since the marital relationship between the defendant and the Mainland residents was in doubt, an investigation was conducted against him.
The defendant under caution admitted that under the arrangement of a middleman, he was paid $7,000-$20,000 as monetary reward to contract bogus marriages with the three Mainland residents for assisting them to obtain visit endorsements and residence status in Hong Kong. An investigation of other suspects is still underway, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.
"The ImmD is very concerned about non-Hong Kong residents staying in Hong Kong by means of a marriage of convenience, and will continue to spare no effort in combating the related illicit activities. For people who have obtained their residence in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, their Hong Kong identity card and residence status will be invalidated according to the laws of Hong Kong. They will also be subject to removal back to their place of origin," the ImmD spokesman stressed.
"According to the Immigration Ordinance, any person who makes any statement or representation which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true to immigration officers commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution, and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and the same penalties. Moreover, according to Crimes Ordinance, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years," the ImmDspokesman warned.
