A former waitress of a karaoke lounge, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced to nine months' imprisonment at North Kowloon Magistracy for accepting $4,000 in bribes to capture customers' credit card data for manufacturing counterfeit credit cards.

The court heard that the false credit cards manufactured were subsequently uttered in retail outlets in Hong Kong, causing a loss of $269,135 to seven local banks.

Tsang Ching-yi, 26, formerly employed by California Red Karaoke, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage, and one of possessing equipment for making false instruments.

In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Garry Tallentire said the seriousness of the offences warranted an immediate custodial sentence.

The magistrate added that the starting point of 15 months was reduced to nine months, taking into account the defendant's guilty plea and her clear record.

The court heard that in early January 2002, the defendant was approached by a man known as "Ah Kiu" for capturing customers' credit card data at the karaoke lounge by using a skimmer.

"Ah Kiu" promised to pay the defendant $300 for each set of card data captured. The defendant agreed to the deal.

Between January 19 and February 11, 2002, the defendant captured about 19 sets of card data with a skimmer provided by "Ah Kiu".

The court also heard that "Ah Kiu" subsequently gave the defendant a total of $4,000 as rewards.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Vivian Lee.