XN000022-1981-06-26 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1981

TOUGHER PENALTIES PROPOSED FOR FORGERY OF IDENTITY CARDS

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ANYONE MANUFACTURING OR USING FORGED IDENTITY CARDS OR OTHER SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL SOON FIND IT A HIGHLY COSTLY BUSINESS, IF SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED PENALTIES PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT ARE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

EXISTING PENALTIES FOR FORGING A DOCUMENT OF PROOF OF IDENTITY RANGE FROM SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $1 000 TO SEVEN YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $50 000, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DOCUMENT INVOLVED.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THESE LEVELS OF PENALTY DID NOT REFLECT THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THE OFFENCES AND SOME ADJUSTMENT WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETER POTENTIAL OFFENDERS.

THE PROPOSALS ARE CONTAINED IN THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1981, THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 AND THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, ALL OF WHICH ARE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTĖ TODAY.

THE BILLS SEEK TO INCREASE TO 14 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR FORGERY OF IDENTITY CARDS, DOCUMENTS ISSUED UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE, TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CARDS.

ANY PERSON FOUND IN POSSESSION OF ANYTHING FIT AND INTENDED FOR USE IN FORGERY WOULD ALSO BE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 14 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN ANY PROCEEDINGS FOR THIS NEW OFFENCE WOULD BE ON THE ACCUSED.

/THE MAXIMUM