Prison for mainlander studying in CUHK with bogus credentials

Jamie Liu

A 30-year-old mainland student was sentenced to three months in jail for lying about having graduated from New York University when applying to a local master's program, and arranging for others to take the online interview on his behalf.

The student's poor academic performance drew the Chinese University of Hong Kong's suspicion around eight months after accepting him into its Master of Business Administration program.

The student, Bao Junyang, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of obtaining services by deception at Shatin Magistrates' Courts before acting principal magistrate Cheang Kei-hong.

In mitigation, the defense said Bao deeply regretted his action, and committed the crime out of foolishness following a suggestion from the education agency handling his CUHK application.

The defense pleaded for a more lenient community service sentence rather than imprisonment. However, Cheang dismissed the sentencing proposal as impractical for the mainland defendant.

The judge said the initial sentence was for four and a half months, but deducted the length of imprisonment by a third on account of the defendant's guilty plea.

The court heard that Bao received an MBA offer from CUHK in February 2023 and began his studies in August that same year, which saw him attending lectures, using libraries and taking exams.

Due to his poor performance by April 2024, CUHK initiated an internal investigation and confirmed with NYU that the defendant was never a graduate of the United States private institution.

CUHK then reported the matter to police and revoked his admission status. Bao was arrested upon entering Hong Kong through the Lok Ma Chau border control point on September 16, 2024.

Bao originally faced another charge of "causing to be made a false statement for the purpose of obtaining an entry permit," but the prosecution was withdrawn.

jamie.liu@singtaonewscorp.com