9 May 2017
Seven male Indians were jailed for conspiracy to defraud at Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (May 9).
The seven Indians arrived with an Indian hockey team from India at Hong Kong International Airport on October 1, 2015. During immigration examination, the team claimed they intended to participate in hockey activities in Hong Kong and they also presented an invitation letter from a local hockey club. After their successful entry, seven team members were found to have overstayed in Hong Kong, and all lodged claims for non-refoulement. The remaining 13 team members departed Hong Kong within their limit of stay.
From January to March 2016, the seven Indians, aged 23 to 32, were arrested by the Immigration Department (ImmD) for the suspected offence of making false representation to Immigration Officers. Under caution, the seven arrestees admitted having disguised themselves as members of the hockey team, and made false representation on their purpose of visit during arrival examination by claiming to be participating in hockey activities.
The seven arrestees were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud by dishonestly disguising himself as a member of a hockey team and falsely representing to an Immigration Officer that his purpose of visit to Hong Kong was to participate in hockey activities. All seven defendants pleaded guilty at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts today and were sentenced from seven months and two weeks to eight months imprisonment respectively.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false representation to Immigration Officers 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 spokesman also warned that conspiracy to defraud is a serious offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction, under the Crimes Ordinance, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years.