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"A Malaysian was sentenced to imprisonment at the District Court today for possessing 6 forged Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports, 1 forged USA passport and 6 forged Hong Kong identity cards," a spokesman for the Immigration Department said today (August 12).

The defendant, CHUNG Choon-long, male, aged 23, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of forged travel documents and one count of possession of forged identity cards. He was sentenced to 22 months' imprisonment for each charge, sentences to run concurrently.

Case revealed that in June 2003, the defendant arrived Hong Kong from Netherlands via Malaysia and was intercepted by the Custom & Excise officer. During body and luggage search, 4 HKSAR passports and 2 PRC passports were unearthed from his hand-carry travel bag. He stated that he was entrusted by his friend to convey these passports from the Netherlands to the Mainland. Immigration officer then took over the case for further inquiry.

Immigration officers then conducted further body and luggage search and unearthed 2 additional HKSAR passports and 1 USA passport from the same hand-carry travel bag. Moreover, 6 Hong Kong identity cards were also found inside his wallet.

Under caution, the defendant admitted that he would receive RMB300 for each passport and identity card he carried plus a free air passage between the Netherlands and Hong Kong.

Forensic examination revealed that all the 6 HKSAR passports, 1 USA passport and 6 Hong Kong identity cards were forged.

"Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who possesses a forged 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, " the Immigration Department spokesman warned.

"Moreover, under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who possesses a forged Hong Kong identity cards commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 10 years, " the spokesman added.

End/Tuesday, August 12, 2003

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