FRIDAY. OCTOBER 6. 1985
10
POLICE SCORES MAJOR VICTORY AGAINST CREDIT CARD FRAUD
*
POLICE COMMERCIAL CRIME INVESTIGATORS HAVE SCORED A MAJOR VICTORY IN THE BATTLE AGAINST CREDIT CARD FRAUD
THIS TIME FOR
THOSE COMMITTED BY GENUINE CARD-HOLDERS.
A RECENT PRECEDENT-SETTING COURT CONVICTION CONFIRMED THE CRIMINAL LIABILITY OF LOCAL CARD-HOLDERS WHO HAD PURCHASED GOODS OR SERVICE PROFUSELY BEYOND THE CREDIT LIMIT ALLOWED.
THE COURT CASE. WHICH WAS INITIATED BY THE COMMERCIAL CRIME ALSO CONFIRMS THE BUREAU UNDER SECTION 18 (D) OF THE THEFT ORDINANCE. AMBIT OF THE HONG KONG POLICE POWER TO DEAL WITH OFFENCES COMMITTED BY LOCAL CARD-HOLDERS OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT A 30-YEAR-OLD MAN. WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO 20 COUNTS OF CHARGES LAID UNDER THE SECTION, WAS RECENTLY CONVICTED IN THE DISTRICT COURT. THE DEFENDANT WAS SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT ON EACH COUNT. TO BE RUN CONCURRENTLY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE WAS UTILISED TO COUNTER OFFENCES COMMITTED BY A GENUINE LOCAL CARD-HOLDER WHO USED HIS CREDIT CARD FOR GAINS WAY ABOVE THE PERMITTED CREDIT LIMIT OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
MONETARY
THE SECTION STIPULATES THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANYONE. THROUGH VARIOUS FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES. TO EFFECT AN ENTRY
IN THE RECORD F A BANK BY DECEPTION. IF CONVICTED. IT CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.
THE POKESMAN SAID THE "TEST CASE" NOW GIVES POLICE THE NECESSARY LEGAL MUSCLE AND FLEXIBILITY IN CRACKING DOWN ON THIS TYPE OF CREDIT CARD OFFENCE.
PREVIOUSLY. THE SPOKESMAN ADDED. CASES IN WHICH A GENUINE HOLDER HAD OVERSPENT HIS CREDIT CEILING WERE TREATED UNDER LITIGATION.
CARD
CIVIL
THE COURT HEARD THAT THE CONVICTED MAN. USING HIS CREDIT CARD. TO WHICH A CREDIT LIMIT OF $3,000 WAS GRANTED. INCURRED A TOTAL OF $540,000 THROUGH 298 TRANSACTIONS IN MAINLAND CHINA BETWEEN APRIL AND MAY 1987.
EVIDENCE GATHERED FROM RELEVANT BANKS CONFIRMED THAT HE WAS IN A POOR FINANCIAL STATUS AT THE TIME.
BUT
HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGED UNDER SECTION 18 (DI OF THE THEFT ORDINANCE ON MARCH 29. 1989. HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY INITIALLY SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED PLEA WHEN THE CASE WENT ON TO TRIAL.
/11