12 July 2023
A Mainland female was charged at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts with one count of making false statement to an Immigration Department (ImmD) staff member, and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment yesterday (July 11).
The 47-year-old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor. During her stay, the defendant submitted applications for an extension of stay to the ImmD. She claimed that she was living with her husband since her arrival and intended to extend her stay to continue taking care of her husband. The ImmD later found out that the defendant's husband had passed away prior to the defendant's arrival, and thus began an investigation against the defendant.
After investigation, the defendant was charged with the offence of making false statement to Immigration staff for the reason of extension. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts yesterday.
"Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false statement to an Immigration officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years," an ImmD spokesman said.