Businessman netted in graft probe gets seven years for possessing false immigration documents
2003-8-11
A businessman, arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry, was today (Monday) sentenced to seven years' imprisonment at District Court for possessing false immigration documents as well as equipment for facilitating the forgery.
Alan Ho Wan-chung, 41, was earlier found guilty of two counts of possessing false instruments, and two of possessing equipment for making false instruments.
Ho was further convicted of possessing an imitation firearm, and handling stolen goods.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Bina Chainrai said a custodial sentence was warranted in view of the serious offences committed by the defendant.
The court heard that in July 2002, the Police seized eleven forged Acknowledgments of Application for a Hong Kong Identity Card in the name of other persons during a search at a North Point premises rented by Ho.
The Police also uncovered from the premises equipment for making such false documents, including a notebook computer, four computer discs, three printouts of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card in the name of other persons, and 39 pieces of the back page of an Acknowledgment of Application for a Hong Kong Identity Card.
The case was referred to the ICAC as corruption was suspected.
ICAC officers arrested Ho in Shaukeiwan in August 2002, when 14 forged Acknowledgments of Application for a Hong Kong Identity Card in the name of other persons, a plastic revolver of model 357 and a bundle of keys were seized from him.
The court heard that one of the keys led to the recovery of a stolen Mercedes Benz, which was the subject of an armed robbery case.
ICAC officers used two other keys seized from the defendant to unlock a premises at Shaukeiwan, where other several forged Acknowledgments of Application for a Hong Kong Identity Card were found.
Also seized from the premises were equipment for forging the above documents and other false identification documents, including several Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards, a Hong Kong Driving Licence and a Hong Kong Motor Vehicle Licence.
The prosecution was today represented by Joseph Pethes on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Petrus Au.
Alan Ho Wan-chung, 41, was earlier found guilty of two counts of possessing false instruments, and two of possessing equipment for making false instruments.
Ho was further convicted of possessing an imitation firearm, and handling stolen goods.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Bina Chainrai said a custodial sentence was warranted in view of the serious offences committed by the defendant.
The court heard that in July 2002, the Police seized eleven forged Acknowledgments of Application for a Hong Kong Identity Card in the name of other persons during a search at a North Point premises rented by Ho.
The Police also uncovered from the premises equipment for making such false documents, including a notebook computer, four computer discs, three printouts of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card in the name of other persons, and 39 pieces of the back page of an Acknowledgment of Application for a Hong Kong Identity Card.
The case was referred to the ICAC as corruption was suspected.
ICAC officers arrested Ho in Shaukeiwan in August 2002, when 14 forged Acknowledgments of Application for a Hong Kong Identity Card in the name of other persons, a plastic revolver of model 357 and a bundle of keys were seized from him.
The court heard that one of the keys led to the recovery of a stolen Mercedes Benz, which was the subject of an armed robbery case.
ICAC officers used two other keys seized from the defendant to unlock a premises at Shaukeiwan, where other several forged Acknowledgments of Application for a Hong Kong Identity Card were found.
Also seized from the premises were equipment for forging the above documents and other false identification documents, including several Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards, a Hong Kong Driving Licence and a Hong Kong Motor Vehicle Licence.
The prosecution was today represented by Joseph Pethes on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Petrus Au.