A ringleader of a credit card fraud syndicate, convicted of a counterfeit credit card fraud which could result in $1 million loss to card issuing banks and merchants, had his prison term increased from three years to 39 months at the Court of Appeal today (Thursday).

Danny Lo Kwok-fai, 47, was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to defraud at District Court in July last year. Lo subsequently appealed against his conviction and queried certain prosecution evidence.

The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice Stuart-Moore, Mr Justice Yeung and Mr Justice Stock, today ruled that the trial judge had considered all the evidence presented by the prosecution cautiously.

The Court ordered to increase Lo's jail term by three months after dismissing his appeal.

Lo was said to have conspired with a number of persons to defraud merchants, banks and credit card companies by uttering false credit cards and obtaining goods with such cards.

The court heard that the syndicate had agreed to use false credit cards to buy $1 million worth of watches at a jewellery shop inside a hotel in Shatin, and make a profit of $500,000 out of the scam.

Two other syndicate members charged in the case were respectively jailed for two and a half years and four years for their roles.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Stanley Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Heath Cheung.