Two officers of the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) and a woman appeared in the Fanling Magistracy today (Wednesday) after being charged by the ICAC for their alleged roles in a sham marriage to help the woman enter and stay in Hong Kong.

The defendants, who were charged yesterday (Tuesday), were Lee Hon-wah, 53, Acting Senior Superintendent of C&E; Lam Yui-keung, 46, Acting Chief Customs Officer of C&E; and Tong Xiaohong, 32, housewife.

They faced one joint count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law.

No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Ms Woo Huey-fang adjourned the case to June 10 this year for plea.

The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offence.

The charge alleged that between January 1, 2013 and November 14, 2014, the trio conspired together with another man to defraud officers of the Immigration Department (ImmD) by the said Tong and the man dishonestly entering into marriage in Hong Kong on March 4, 2013.

The charge also alleged that Tong and the said man subsequently falsely represented to the said ImmD officers that they were a married couple and Tong entered Hong Kong for visiting and reuniting with her spouse, thereby causing and inducing the said ImmD officers to grant Tong permission to enter and stay in Hong Kong.

Lee and Lam were each granted cash bail of $50,000, while Tong was granted cash bail of $3,000. They were also ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and not to leave Hong Kong.

C&E and ImmD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Raymond Yung.