154 caught in bogus marriage scams

More than 150 people have been arrested for fake marriages as two Hong Kong masterminds of a bogus marriage syndicate were each sentenced to 36 months in prison by a district court on Wednesday, the Immigration Department said.

The department earlier smashed the syndicate in a series of raids conducted since August 2019, during which 78 men and 76 women, aged 25 to 70, including the two masterminds, were arrested.

The masterminds, Ngai Hon-chu, 70, and Mak Kam-oi, 64, were sentenced after pleading guilty to 23 and 17 counts of conspiracy to defraud on Wednesday.

The department said its investigative team had analyzed a number of suspected bogus marriages with a similar modus operandi that identified the syndicate as being active in New Territories west.

The syndicate's members built up and expanded their reach through mobile games, soliciting New Territories west residents and luring them into bogus marriage arrangements.

It has been in operation since 2007, and the two masterminds operated out of a public housing estate in Tuen Mun.

"The syndicate would also disseminate messages via instant messaging software and offer large sums to induce locals to take part in bogus marriage contracts with mainland residents who intend to settle here."

It is believed the number of bogus marriages has hit at least 128, with each mainlander charged between 50,000 yuan (HK$54,870) to 100,000 yuan, netting the syndicate more than HK$7 million.

Apart from the two female masterminds, 12 people have been sentenced to 10 to 20 months' imprisonment for conspiracy to defraud.

A department spokesman urged the public not to violate the law by participating in activities related to bogus marriages anywhere and not to take a false oath before immigration officers to procure a marriage in Hong Kong.

Public vigilance was also urged in the use of social networking platforms.

People making false representations to immigration officers are liable to be fined up to HK$150,000 and imprisoned for 14 years upon conviction.

Any one who makes a false oath or signs false declarations for the purpose of procuring a marriage faces up to seven years imprisonment upon conviction.

Anyone who commits the offense of conspiracy to defraud is liable to a maximum imprisonment of 14 years upon conviction.