Man sentenced for counterfeit banknotes related offence

A 26-year-old man was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment upon conviction of counterfeit banknotes related offence at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts yesterday (May 9).

The court heard that in the afternoon of March 26, 2007, the man patronized a bank on Chung On Street in Tsuen Wan to exchange 200 pieces of $1,000 banknotes. The teller suspected some of the banknotes were counterfeit and report was made. The man was arrested at scene and the banknotes were seized.

The Commercial Crime Bureau took over the case for investigations. It was confirmed that 20 pieces of the seizure were new variation 2000 and 2002 series HSBC $1,000 counterfeit banknotes. Upon further enquiries, the man claimed that another man asked him to exchange the banknotes for him earlier and he would receive $3,000 as reward.

The man was subsequently charged with one count of conspiracy to pass counterfeit notes. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentence to 12 months' imprisonment yesterday.

The whole sum of $200,000 seized, including both the counterfeit ($20,000) and genuine notes ($180,000), were confiscated under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.

At present, another two males have been charged due to similar offence and pending for trial.

The Hong Kong Police Force has long been devoted to counteract counterfeit banknotes and would not condone any misdeed in this respect.


Police Report No.3
Issued by PPRB

End/Thursday, May 10, 2007