Three years' jail for bribing immigration officers to enter HK with forged passport
2001-6-29
A Mainland woman was today (Friday) sentenced to three years' imprisonment at District Court for offering bribes ranging from US$50,000 to US$60,000 to immigration officers at the airport for taking no action against her using a forged passport.
Lin Sai-ying, also known as Shao Mei-ren, 26, was today found guilty of three counts of offering advantages to public servants.
She earlier pleaded guilty to two other offences –'96 making a false representation to an immigration officer and using a forged travel document.
Judge Maggie Poon said an immediate custodial sentence was warranted, since bribing public servants was a serious offence, and maintaining justice was of importance to the society.
The court heard that Lin arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from Kuala Lumpur on January 19 this year.
Lin presented a People's Republic of China passport in the name of Shao Meiren to an immigration officer for immigration clearance.
After detecting that the passport was damaged, the immigration officer reported the matter to his superior, and detained the defendant for further enquiry.
During the course of immigration enquiry on January 20, Lin offered on three separate occasions, US$50,000, US$60,000, bribes in four other currencies (HK$68.7, US$192, 134.25 Malaysian dollars and 29 Renminbi) and some personal property to three other im migration officers.
The bribes were rewards for these immigration officers taking no action against her in respect of alleged offences under the Immigration Ordinance.
The Immigration Department referred the case to the ICAC.
Lin was subsequently arrested by ICAC officers.
The Government Chemist examined the passport and confirmed that it was forged.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Johnny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Tony Ho.
Lin Sai-ying, also known as Shao Mei-ren, 26, was today found guilty of three counts of offering advantages to public servants.
She earlier pleaded guilty to two other offences –'96 making a false representation to an immigration officer and using a forged travel document.
Judge Maggie Poon said an immediate custodial sentence was warranted, since bribing public servants was a serious offence, and maintaining justice was of importance to the society.
The court heard that Lin arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from Kuala Lumpur on January 19 this year.
Lin presented a People's Republic of China passport in the name of Shao Meiren to an immigration officer for immigration clearance.
After detecting that the passport was damaged, the immigration officer reported the matter to his superior, and detained the defendant for further enquiry.
During the course of immigration enquiry on January 20, Lin offered on three separate occasions, US$50,000, US$60,000, bribes in four other currencies (HK$68.7, US$192, 134.25 Malaysian dollars and 29 Renminbi) and some personal property to three other im migration officers.
The bribes were rewards for these immigration officers taking no action against her in respect of alleged offences under the Immigration Ordinance.
The Immigration Department referred the case to the ICAC.
Lin was subsequently arrested by ICAC officers.
The Government Chemist examined the passport and confirmed that it was forged.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Johnny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Tony Ho.