Six years’ jail for using false bank documents to deceive HK$6.3m
2014-7-31
A businesswoman, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at the District Court for using false bank documents to deceive an investor of over HK$6.3 million in relation to a railway project on the Mainland.
Mable Woo Mei-bo, 49, was today found guilty of one count of using a false instrument, one of possessing a false instrument, and one of using a copy of a false instrument.
In sentencing, Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng reprimanded the defendant for committing the serious crimes, and showing no remorse.
The judge said the defendant was a seasoned fraudster, who exercised her premeditated plan with great care, and caused huge losses to an investor.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that in March 2011, the defendant entrusted a consultant to look for investors to build a railway system on the Mainland (the railway project).
In order to prove that she was financially sound, the defendant gave the consultant a document dated March 4, 2011, which was purportedly issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOC) in relation to a bank account held in the name of the defendant, an d showed a balance of over HK$19.8 billion.
The defendant also claimed that she maintained a balance of around HK$39 billion in her personal bank account with the HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). Upon the request of the consultant, the defendant later provided a copy of a balance proof of her HSBC account.
Believing that the defendant was financially sound and the bank documents provided by the defendant were genuine, the consultant eventually agreed to look for investors for the defendant.
The court heard that on March 21, 2011, the consultant found an investor who agreed to lend the defendant US$1 million, and that the investor would receive a portion of the proceeds generated from the railway project.
On the following day, the investor transferred HK$7.8 million to a bank account designated by the defendant. Subsequently, the majority of the money was transferred to the defendant’s bank account for her personal use.
The court heard that the defendant had only repaid a sum of HK$1.5 million to the investor.
It was later confirmed that those BOC and HSBC bank documents were false and that all information borne thereon was bogus, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Dunn, assisted by ICAC officer Jessie Fu.
Mable Woo Mei-bo, 49, was today found guilty of one count of using a false instrument, one of possessing a false instrument, and one of using a copy of a false instrument.
In sentencing, Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng reprimanded the defendant for committing the serious crimes, and showing no remorse.
The judge said the defendant was a seasoned fraudster, who exercised her premeditated plan with great care, and caused huge losses to an investor.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that in March 2011, the defendant entrusted a consultant to look for investors to build a railway system on the Mainland (the railway project).
In order to prove that she was financially sound, the defendant gave the consultant a document dated March 4, 2011, which was purportedly issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOC) in relation to a bank account held in the name of the defendant, an d showed a balance of over HK$19.8 billion.
The defendant also claimed that she maintained a balance of around HK$39 billion in her personal bank account with the HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). Upon the request of the consultant, the defendant later provided a copy of a balance proof of her HSBC account.
Believing that the defendant was financially sound and the bank documents provided by the defendant were genuine, the consultant eventually agreed to look for investors for the defendant.
The court heard that on March 21, 2011, the consultant found an investor who agreed to lend the defendant US$1 million, and that the investor would receive a portion of the proceeds generated from the railway project.
On the following day, the investor transferred HK$7.8 million to a bank account designated by the defendant. Subsequently, the majority of the money was transferred to the defendant’s bank account for her personal use.
The court heard that the defendant had only repaid a sum of HK$1.5 million to the investor.
It was later confirmed that those BOC and HSBC bank documents were false and that all information borne thereon was bogus, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Dunn, assisted by ICAC officer Jessie Fu.