Sha Tin Magistracy has jailed a fake marriage syndicate mastermind for one year for arranging a bogus marriage between a Hong Kong woman and a Mainland man.

Chan Chi-king, 52, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud. Hong Kong woman, Tam Mei-yee, 26, and syndicate member Wong Wing-pun, 31, previously pleaded guilty to a joint conspiracy charge. The court was told that Wong had since died and Tam's sentencing was adjourned to October 22.

Tam, when intercepted by immigration investigators in January, admitted that her marriage with a Mainland man was arranged by Chan and Wong so he could apply for a 90-day visit endorsement to enter and settle in Hong Kong.

Chan's Mong Kok residence was raided a month later, with copies of marriage documents, travel documents, Mainland exit-entry permits, notebooks and telephone books relating to false marriages seized. Ten more people were apprehended in connection with Hong Kong-Mainland false marriages, with four convicted on conspiracy charges and jailed for up to 16 months.

Tam's bogus husband pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy and was jailed 16 months.