Eight South Asian men have been charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) with conspiracy to defraud after allegedly using forged foreign driving licenses to obtain Hong Kong licenses without taking the local test. The eight appeared in separate cases at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (Nov 21).”
Prosecutors said the men conspired with others between May 2022 and August 2023 to falsely claim they were eligible for the Direct Issue of Full Hong Kong Driving Licence scheme, inducing the Transport Department to grant them full licenses.
Two defendants — Ong Jomari Perfinan, 27, and Ahmed Waseem, 47 — pleaded guilty and were remanded in custody until December 5 for sentencing.
ICAC investigators found that Perfinan and Waseem did not hold any valid Pakistani driving licences, despite submitting documents claiming eligibility under the scheme.
Defense lawyers said the men never drove after obtaining the licenses, but the magistrate warned a custodial sentence was likely.
The remaining six defendants were granted HK$5,000 bail, ordered to surrender their travel documents, and had their cases adjourned to January and February for further proceedings.
