Hong Kong immigration department smashes bogus marriage syndicate

HONG KONG, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Immigration Department of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government Friday said a bogus marriage syndicate was smashed in an operation in Hong Kong on Wednesday, when five people were arrested.

The department spokesman said the arrested people were suspected to have committed the offences of conspiracy to defraud, as well as aiding and abetting others in making false representation to immigration officers.

"In the premises of the mastermind and core members, investigators seized a number of documents relating to bogus marriage as well as mobile phones and more," the spokesman said, adding that the operation is still ongoing and more arrests may be made.

Under the laws of Hong Kong, it is an offence to make false representation to immigration officers. Offenders are liable to prosecution and to a maximum fine of 150,000 HK dollars (about 19,230 U.S. dollars) and imprisonment for 14 years.

Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and the same penalties. Enditem