Duo jailed for possessing and using false instrument

An expatriate couple, including a 22-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man, were each sentenced to an imprisonment of 32 months and 40 months respectively upon conviction of offences including possessing and using a false instrument at the District Court today (December 29).

The court heard that the 22-year-old defendant accompanied by the 34-year-old defendant bought a mobile phone by producing a credit card at a shop in Wan Chai on August 15 this year. Suspecting the card was counterfeit, the shop assistant made a report to Police. Police officers later arrested the duo following the seizure of two other counterfeit credit cards in the 34-year-old man's possession.

A subsequent search on their residence in Central resulted in the seizure of a number of exhibits including 17 suspected counterfeit credit cards, a forged passport, three identity cards and two driving licences, a small quantity of cannabis and Part I poison. Some digital products including mobile phones and cameras seized were later confirmed to be purchased with the counterfeit credit cards.

Following investigations by the Commercial Crime Bureau, they were jointly charged with 34 counts of using a false instrument, possessing false instruments, possessing a forged travel document and possessing identity cards relating to others while the 34-year-old man was additionally charged with four counts of possessing false instruments, breach of condition of stay, possession of dangerous drug and Part I poison.

The sentences were handed down today upon conviction of the offences.


Police Report No. 5
Issued by PPRB
END/Friday, December 29, 2006