Two charged for using false driving licenses to apply for direct HK license issuance

Two men accused of deceiving the Transport Department to fraudulently obtain Hong Kong driving licenses without local tests by falsely claiming to hold foreign licenses faced a further hearing on Thursday, with the duo being granted bail.

The defendants, 21-year-old Ibrahim Muhammad and 23-year-old Falaq-Sher, who claimed to be delivery workers, were each charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption with one count of conspiracy to defraud. 

Falaq-Sher appeared at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today without legal representation, noting that he intended to plead guilty. However, after Principal Magistrate David Cheung Chi-wai explained his rights and the availability of duty lawyer services, he said he wished to seek representation. 

Meanwhile, Muhammad arrived late at the court. The prosecution initially requested a warrant for his arrest -- which was granted by Cheung -- but the warrant was later stripped after Muhammad arrived 30 minutes late.

Both cases have been adjourned to March 19, allowing the defendants to remain on bail pending further proceedings. 

The court heard that the duo conspired with others to defraud the Transport Department by dishonestly misrepresenting that they met the eligibility criteria for the “direct issue of the Hong Kong full driving license without test” between May 26, 2022 and August 1, 2023, thereby inducing the department to grant them a license.