A Canadian forged passport courier and two Mainlanders with fake Canadian passports have been jailed for up to 25 months by the District Court. The three women are Canadian Lin Mei Qing, 31, and Mainlanders Lin Shi, 17, and Zeng Yingtao, 19.

Lin Mei Qing pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed 25 months for each charge, with the sentences running concurrently.

Lin Shi was charged with one count of possession of a false travel document and one of conspiracy to defraud. She was jailed 12 months on the possession charge and 15 on the conspiracy charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

Zeng was charged with one count of possession of a false travel document and one count of conspiracy to defraud. She was convicted on both charges and sentenced to 15 and 24 months jail, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Immigration officers last year arrested the courier and Lin Shi in a toilet at Hong Kong International Airport when they were exchanging documents. A forged Canadian passport bearing Lin Shi's photo and a boarding pass were found in the Mainlander's possession. The two documents were in the name of other people. The courier was found in possession of a Mainland passport and a Mainland identity card in respect of Lin Shi.

Officers also intercepted Zeng at a boarding gate. She had the courier's boarding pass and a forged Canadian passport bearing her own photo but in the courier's name.