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Three Hong Kong residents were jailed for the illegal transfer of passports after appearing at the District Court today (March 2).
The first defendant, Chui Ming-hong, aged 34, who acted as a passport broker, was charged with one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the transfer to another without reasonable excuse of a travel document, and two counts of possession of an unlawfully obtained travel document. He was sentenced to two years and eight months' imprisonment.
The second defendant, Fong Chi-kit, and the third defendant, Cheung Hing-fat, were each charged with one count of transfer to another without reasonable excuse of a travel document. Cheung has also been charged with one count of theft. They were sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment.
On June 11, 2008, an immigration officer disguised as a prospective passport seller contacted the passport broker, Chui, in response to a newspaper advertisement. The undercover officer was asked to meet Chui for the passport transaction. Chui was subsequently arrested and two HKSAR passports with the identity of Fong and another person were found in his possession.
Under caution, Fong admitted that he noticed an advertisement in a newspaper and sold his HKSAR passport to Chui for HK$800. Cheung admitted that he had stolen his elder brother's HKSAR passport which he sold to Chui for HK$400. All three defendants were convicted of their respective charges upon pleading guilty today.
"Under the laws of Hong Kong, it is an offence to transfer any travel document to another person without reasonable excuse. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Those aiding and abetting such crimes are liable to the same penalty," an Immigration Department spokesman warned.
Ends/Monday, March 2, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:20
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