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Police today (March 1) charged four teenage boys with 10 counts of access to computer with dishonest intent.

Police officers from the Technology Crime Division of the Commercial Crime Bureau (TCD/CCB) mounted an operation codenamed "Replicator" in September last year with a view to deterring online game related crimes.

The operation turned overt in December when the officers arrested the four teenage boys aged between 15 and 18 who were found involving in three reports made to the TCD/CCB in which online game tokens or weapons were stolen.

They were subsequently charged with a total of 10 counts of access computer with dishonest intent.

Of them, an 18-year-old man will appear in Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts on March 9 while a 15-year-old boy to appear in the Juvenile Court of Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on March 10.

The remaining pair, aged 16 and 17, who were arrested in the same case, will appear in Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on March 11.

A Police spokesman stressed that access to computer with dishonest intent is a serious offence which is liable to five years' imprisonment upon conviction.

He also advises players of online game should remain prudent of their account passwords and be vigilant when making transactions of online game tools with strangers.

The operation is still on-going.

Police Report No. 3

Issued by PPRB

End/2000 hours, Monday, March 1, 2004 (MM/CA)

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