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The Immigration Department announced that a Hong Kong resident was jailed by the District Court today(May 5).
Hong Kong resident Mr Cheng Ho-yin, 21, was charged with one count of possession of false instruments. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment.
On December 9, 2009, Mr Cheng arrived in Hong Kong and was intercepted at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point. Upon being searched, four suspected forged Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports were found in the inner pocket of his jacket, two of them bearing Mr Cheng's photo.
Forensic examination revealed that the four HKSAR passports were forgeries. Cheng admitted under caution that the photographs affixed in two of the four forged HKSAR passports were his, but said the particulars printed thereon did not belong to him and that the photographs in the other two forged HKSAR passports belonged to his friend. He further said that he gave his photograph and Hong Kong Identity Card number to a middleman for the preparation of forged passports which were to be used in Europe.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who has in his custody a false instrument commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years.
Ends/Thursday, May 5, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:18
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