A Mainland male was charged at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts with three counts of making false statement to an Immigration Department (ImmD) staff member, and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment on September 28.
The 50-year-old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor. During his stay, the defendant submitted applications for extension of stay to the ImmD. He claimed to extend his stay for taking care of his son in Hong Kong. The ImmD later found out that the defendant's son had departed Hong Kong prior to the defendant's arrival, and thus began an investigation against the defendant.
After investigation, the defendant was charged with three counts of making false statement to Immigration staff upon application for extension of stay. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment by the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts on September 28.
"Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false statement to an Immigration officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years," an ImmD spokesman said.
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