**********************************************************
A Singaporean and two Mainlanders received jail sentences at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (November 23) after being convicted of possessing a false travel document.
An Immigration spokesman said the three defendants - a male Singaporean, Ng Ngak Hoo, and two Mainland women, Yang Cailing and Qiu Jiehe - all pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a false travel document. Ng was sentenced to six months' imprisonment while Yang and Qiu were both sentenced to five month's jail.
The court heard that the three defendants were deported to Hong Kong from Vietnam on November 3, 2005, for possessing false Malaysian passports. They admitted that they were given the false passports on a flight to Vietnam. As the offences were committed outside Hong Kong but on a Hong Kong controlled aircraft, prosecution under the Aviation Security Ordinance, Chapter 494 of Laws of Hong Kong was instituted.
The two Mainlanders claimed that a middleman offered to arrange a travel document for them to go to France at a cost of US$20,000. They arrived in Hong Kong on the strength of their own passport and then took a flight to Vietnam. On this flight they met Ng who took away their own passports and gave each of them a Malaysian passport. They were aware that the Malaysian passports bore only their photos and that the personal particulars did not relate to them.
Ng admitted meeting a middleman in Singapore who offered to arrange a travel document for him to go to Morocco at a cost of US$12,000. He arrived in Hong Kong and took a flight to Vietnam. He met a lady on the flight who took his own Singaporean passport and gave him a Malaysian passport. He was aware that the travel document was false upon receipt.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who possesses a false travel document commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years.
Ends/Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Issued at HKT 20:44
NNNN
