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A man who issued dishonoured cheques to the Inland Revenue Department was sentenced today (June 28) by Magistrate Syman Wong of Eastern Magistrate's Court to five months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

On passing the sentence, Magistrate Wong indicated that evasion of liability by deception is a serious offence especially when the offences were committed over a period of time.

The convicted defendant, Chan Cheong-shing, was prosecuted on three counts of making default on liability to make payment of stamp duty by deception, contrary to Section 18B of the Theft Ordinance. During the period from September 1999 to November 1999, Chan issued three cheques to the Government of the HKSAR for the payment of stamp duty. These cheques were subsequently found to be dishonoured. The case was reported to the Police. The defendant was charged and convicted that by deception he with intent to make default in whole or in part on an existing liability to make a payment of totally $2,077 to the Stamp Office.

A Spokesman for the Inland Revenue Department reminds members of the public that evasion of liability by deception is a criminal offence and any such case will be reported to the Police.

End/Wednesday, June 28, 2000

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