Mainland woman jailed 17 months over fake ID plot
On.cc · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 46-year-old mainland Chinese woman was convicted in the District Court of two counts of conspiracy to make false instruments and sentenced to 17 months in prison over forged Hong Kong identity card images used in illegal employment schemes. The case centered on her obtaining a fake identity card image for herself and arranging another forged card image for a fellow mainland resident in return for HK$10,000, while also helping that person look for work in Hong Kong.
Key Points
- The Immigration Department arrested the defendant after investigating a case involving the use of a forged Hong Kong identity card for illegal work in Hong Kong.
- Investigators found forged Hong Kong identity card images on her mobile phone, including an image of a fake card bearing her own name and likeness.
- Under caution, she admitted that in 2024 she obtained a forged identity card image through an intermediary to help herself find work in Hong Kong.
- She also admitted taking HK$10,000 from another mainland resident to arrange a forged Hong Kong identity card image and assist that person in finding work.
- The illegal worker linked to the case had earlier been jailed for 15 months, while the defendant had separately received a 12-month sentence in November 2024 over a similar case in Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts.
Why It Matters
The case shows how forged identity card images were allegedly used not only for personal illegal employment but also to facilitate work arrangements for others in Hong Kong. It also indicates that repeat offending and links between document forgery and illegal labour remain a focus of Immigration Department investigations and prosecutions.