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Canadian kudos for CCB
 Canadian consular officials present accolades to Commercial Crime Bureau officers at the consulate |
Eleven Commercial Crime Bureau officers were commended by Canadian Consular officials recently for their efforts in smashing an immigration fraud.
Consul-General Colin Russel presented the officers with plaques and certificates on December 10 at the Consulate in Exchange Square.
In June, 1998 CCB received a complaint from the Consulate concerning an immigration consultancy which was suspected of submitting counterfeit documents supporting applications for permanent Canadian residency status. The documents included counterfeit education certificates and employment reference letters.
A 16-month-long investigation ensued on 50 fraudulent applications and culminated in joint raids with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the consultancy's offices in Hong Kong and Toronto.
Numerous counterfeit documents as well as a list of clients were found, and the mastermind and consultancy head were later located and arrested in Hong Kong with several other collusive applicants - 16 were arrested in total.
Officer-in-charge Detective Senior Inspector Yau Siu-kei and Detective Sergeant Liu Yau-wah travelled to Canada as part of their investigation. Over 70 witness statements were taken, and the wealth of evidence took up 30 box files.
A 22-day trial ensued and 10 people were convicted, the mastermind getting 18 months imprisonment.
The judge said the case intricacies were well presented by Police and the prosecution giving him clear perspective on the culpability of all parties in the case.
"Such court judgements not only prove a most effective deterrent to crime but also serve to maintain Canada's high level of confidence in Hong Kong and the integrity of Canada's immigrant selection program," Mr Russel said.
"The highly successful conclusion of this investigation proves the value of working closely together to counter the threat posed by persons involved in cross-jurisdictional illegal immigration activities." In recognition of the Bureau's overall effort, CCB Chief Superintendent Victor Lo Yik-kee and several other officers were also presented with plaques.