2005-11-01 18:46 Two Indian men, aged 28 and 30, were convicted of passing and custody of counterfeit banknotes and sentenced respectively to one and a half year and four years' imprisonment at District Court today (November 1). The court heard that the 30-year-old man used a counterfeit $500 banknote to buy some food in a restaurant on Cameron Road in Tsim Sha Tsui on April 17, 2005. Suspecting the banknote was fake, the staff made a report to the Police. The man was later released after enquiries. After follow-up investigations, Police raided a residential flat on Fung Yi Street in To Kwa Wan the next day where the two defendants were found inside. A total of 25 pieces of counterfeit $500 banknotes and 13 pieces of counterfeit $1,000 banknotes were seized from the flat. The two men were arrested. The 30-year-old man admitted passing the counterfeit banknote in the restaurant on April 17 and was charged with one count of passing counterfeit banknotes and one count of custody of counterfeit banknotes on October 25. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old man was charged with one count of custody of counterfeit banknotes. The 28-year-old man pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment today. The 30-year-old man was convicted at District Court after trial yesterday (October 31). The court accepted Police’s application for enhanced sentencing under the Organized and Serious Crime Ordinance and sentenced the man to four years' imprisonment today. |