Four men jailed for lottery fraud
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Four men, aged between 22 to 29, were convicted of money laundering offences and sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 18 to 45 months at the District Court today (April 9).

The Court heard that from June to August 2008, several victims living overseas received phone calls from a man who claimed that victims have won prizes of over $5 million in lucky draws. In order to receive the prizes, victims were required to deposit various advance fees. A total of about $5 million were deposited into the designated bank accounts. One of the victims deposited the required fees as instructed but later felt suspicious and reported the case to Hong Kong Police.

After in-depth investigations, officers of the Commercial Crime Bureau arrested a 27-year-old man when he attempted to withdraw money from a bank in Mong Kok area on July 22, 2008. A 29-year-old man was also arrested on August 14, 2008 at Lo Wu Control Point when he attempted to left Hong Kong and two other men, aged 22 and 24, were subsequently arrested inside a flat in Mong Kok area on the same day. The four men admitted that they have met another foreign man overseas who asked them to assist in dealing with the opening of bank accounts and money transfer in Hong Kong and promised to give each of them about $20,000 per month as reward.

The 22-year-old man was charged with dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence and the other three men were charged with conspiracy to deal with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence and sentences were handed down today.

Police Report No. 5
Issued by PPRB

Ends/Thursday, April 9, 2009
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