2008-07-11 19:47 Please see Form B for details. 2008-07-11 19:47 Four women and three men, aged between 28 and 54, were sentenced at the District Court today (July 11) to prison terms of between three years and five years and six months for conspiracy to defraud and obtaining property by deception. The court heard that on November 13 last year, Police arrested the four women and three men attempting to deceive a 61-year-old woman victim during an intelligence-led operation conducted in Tseung Kwan O. Two women pretending to look for a ritual master approached the victim for help. The third woman then appeared and claimed that she was the granddaughter of the master. She told the victim that the victim's son had ill fortune and suggested that she should take out her money and valuables of about $20,000 for blessing. Police immediately arrested the three women. Three men and another woman, who acted as lookouts nearby, were also arrested. All of them came from the Mainland. Investigations revealed that three of the women were also involved with four other similar cases that happened between July and October last year in Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun and Ma On Shan, which involved about $0.7 Million. The four women and three men were charged with conspiracy to defraud and obtaining property by deception and sentences were handed down today. Police called on members of the public to be cautious and to discuss with their family members before making any decisions about taking out their valuables for blessing. |