An unemployed man was jailed for nine months at Tuen Mun Court today (Friday) for posing as a Customs and Excise officer and soliciting monthly protection fees from an illegal oil station.

Chung Wai-yip, 25, unemployed, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain property by deception.

In sentencing, Magistrate Mr David Thomas said the offences committed by the defendant were serious, which warranted an immediate custodial sentence.

The judge added that he had taken into consideration the defendant's guilty plea and his cooperation with the ICAC.

The court was told that in February this year, Chung came to know Lai King-man, a former police constable, who initiated a plan to solicit money from the operator of an illicit oil station near Tai Tong Shan Road, Yuen Long, by posing as Customs officers.

In the evening of March 8, another person known as “ Ah Lik ” gave each of them a fake Customs and Excise Department warrant card, and drove them to the oil station.

Chung and Lai produced their false warrant cards and took away $1,900 from a temporary worker.

They left the mobile phone number of Ah Lik for the worker to pass to the oil station operator, Lau Kai-tong.

When Lau called Ah Lik, Ah Lik also claimed himself to be a Customs officer and confirmed that he had received a protection fee of $1,900.

Ah Lik further solicited a $6,000 monthly payment and agreed the operator only needed to pay the balance of $4,000.

In the evening of March 9, Chung and Lai were caught red-handed by ICAC officers after taking the $4,000 from the operator.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Samson Wong.