Woman jailed for passing counterfeit banknotes

A 35-year-old Hong Kong woman was today (November 19) jailed for one year after being convicted of passing counterfeit bank notes.

The case prompted warnings from the Police that passing or custody of counterfeit banknotes was a serious offence and offenders were liable to heavy penalties.

Eastern Magistrates' Court heard that on August 24, a 22-year-old woman went to a bank in Central to deposit 121 HK$500 notes. The teller, suspecting that 21 of the banknotes were counterfeit, contacted Police and the woman was arrested at the bank.

The woman told the police it was the 35-year-old defendant who had asked her to deposit the money into the bank and she did not know that any of the banknotes were counterfeit. The 35-year-old woman was arrested the same day.

The Commercial Crime Bureau took over the case for further investigation and the two women were later jointly charged with one count of passing counterfeit banknotes.

The 22-year-old woman's charge was later dismissed while the 35-year-old defendant was today jailed for one year.

Police in Hong Kong have been actively taking action to combat counterfeit banknotes.


Police Report No. 1
Issued by PPRB

Ends/Monday, November 19, 2007