*********************************
Two Mainland women and a Hong Kong man who entered into bogus marriages in Hong Kong, were today (January 11) jailed after appearing in the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
The 35-year-old female defendant, Yu Ya-feng, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of making of false representation to an Immigration officer. She was given an effective sentence of 15 months.
Yu's bogus husband, 39-year-old Hong Kong resident, Ho Moon-tong, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for 18 months.
Another Mainland woman, 36-year-old Lin Bin, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of making of false representation to an Immigration officer and was given an effective sentence of 15 months.
On December 19, 2006, Yu and Lin, who knew each other, arrived at Lo Wu control point together, each with a Mainland Entry and Exit Permit bearing a "90-day visa" endorsement and declared to the Immigration control officer that they were going to visit their resident husbands. They were detained for further investigation.
Both admitted that they had agreed with a middleman to enter into bogus marriages with Hong Kong residents in November last year, Yu with Ho and Lin with another Hong Kong man, for the purpose of acquiring "90-day visa" endorsements to stay longer in Hong Kong and eventually acquire a One-way Permit.
Ho was located and he admitted that he had entered into bogus marriage with Yu in Hong Kong for monetary rewards.
"The department has been very concerned with non-Hong Kong residents obtaining the right to stay in Hong Kong by means of bogus marriages," 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.
Ends/Thursday, January 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:24
NNNN
