Brothers sentenced for possessing fake HKMU student IDs to defraud Apple discounts

Two decorator brothers who bought 35 fake Hong Kong Metropolitan University student cards on Taobao to fraudulently obtain Apple product discounts avoided immediate jail time, receiving suspended sentences and fines at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old younger brother, Chu Man-to, and the 32-year-old elder brother, Chu Man-sing, pleaded guilty to possessing false instruments.

They were caught on September 5, 2023, outside a shop in Mong Kok's Sin Tat Plaza when police stopped their suspicious private car during a patrol around 11am.

Officers found one fake student card in each brother's pocket and 33 more in the vehicle, along with 30 unopened Apple products.

The pair admitted to intending to use the counterfeit IDs to induce Apple stores to accept them as genuine and provide student discounts, causing detriment to the company.

Defense mitigation highlighted that the elder brother had a newborn son, while the younger had suffered a work injury years earlier.

Principal Magistrate Don So Man-lung, after hearing pleas, sentenced each to six months' imprisonment suspended for three years and imposed a HK$2,000 fine.

No additional submissions were made by the prosecution or defense when the magistrate suggested suspension.

The case revealed the cards were purchased online specifically for the scam, with police seizing most unused Apple items bought using the fraud.