Alleged human smuggling syndicate members face ICAC charges
2001-5-11
The ICAC has charged five members of a suspected human smuggling syndicate who allegedly helped Mainland residents, who did not possess valid visas, to enter the United States with forged US passports and swapped boarding passes.
The Consulate of the United States earlier referred the case to the ICAC, suspecting that the syndicate might have offered bribes to airport staff for their assistance in human smuggling activities. Subsequent ICAC investigation found no evidence showing involvement of airport staff.
Chan Sung-yuen, 38, company proprietor, Cheng Kwong-chung, 29, merchant, Robert Yu, 38, unemployed, Wong Lai-ming, 32, housewife, and Cheng Hong-shing, 28, company proprietor, appeared at Tsuen Wan Court this (Friday) morning on a total of four charges.
These charges alleged them of conspiracy to possess false US passports and conspiracy to defraud the United Airlines.
Two Mainland residents, Cheng Chongfei, 25, and Lu Qiufeng, 28, were earlier each charged with one count of possessing a forged US passport.
They were today further charged with the conspiracy offences together with the remaining defendants, and each faced one additional charge of making a false representation to an Immigration Officer.
The alleged offences took place between March 1 and 3 this year.
No pleas were taken today. Magistrate Ms Julia Livesey adjourned the case to June 1, 2001, pending transfer to District Court. The magistrate
ordered to remand all the defendants in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
It was alleged that the two Mainlanders, who had travelled to Hong Kong on People's Republic of China passports, had obtained from the syndicate airline tickets to some Asian destinations.
After they had checked in into the restricted area of the Hong Kong airport, some syndicate members allegedly swapped their boarding passes for a flight to Chicago with those held by the Mainlanders.
It was also believed that the syndicate members also provided the Mainlanders with forged US passports.
The syndicate members were arrested by ICAC officers after allegedly delivering the forged passports and boarding passes to the two Mainland residents at the airport.
The two Mainland residents were also arrested inside an aircraft before leaving for Chicago.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Robert Pang.
The Consulate of the United States earlier referred the case to the ICAC, suspecting that the syndicate might have offered bribes to airport staff for their assistance in human smuggling activities. Subsequent ICAC investigation found no evidence showing involvement of airport staff.
Chan Sung-yuen, 38, company proprietor, Cheng Kwong-chung, 29, merchant, Robert Yu, 38, unemployed, Wong Lai-ming, 32, housewife, and Cheng Hong-shing, 28, company proprietor, appeared at Tsuen Wan Court this (Friday) morning on a total of four charges.
These charges alleged them of conspiracy to possess false US passports and conspiracy to defraud the United Airlines.
Two Mainland residents, Cheng Chongfei, 25, and Lu Qiufeng, 28, were earlier each charged with one count of possessing a forged US passport.
They were today further charged with the conspiracy offences together with the remaining defendants, and each faced one additional charge of making a false representation to an Immigration Officer.
The alleged offences took place between March 1 and 3 this year.
No pleas were taken today. Magistrate Ms Julia Livesey adjourned the case to June 1, 2001, pending transfer to District Court. The magistrate
ordered to remand all the defendants in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
It was alleged that the two Mainlanders, who had travelled to Hong Kong on People's Republic of China passports, had obtained from the syndicate airline tickets to some Asian destinations.
After they had checked in into the restricted area of the Hong Kong airport, some syndicate members allegedly swapped their boarding passes for a flight to Chicago with those held by the Mainlanders.
It was also believed that the syndicate members also provided the Mainlanders with forged US passports.
The syndicate members were arrested by ICAC officers after allegedly delivering the forged passports and boarding passes to the two Mainland residents at the airport.
The two Mainland residents were also arrested inside an aircraft before leaving for Chicago.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Robert Pang.