Sha Tin Magistracy has jailed a 48-year-old Hong Kong man a year for acting as an intermediary in an immigration scam.

Ferdinand Cheng was convicted of one count of conspiracy to obtain services by deception.

A Mainlander who intended to board a flight for London in June 2007 was found in possession of a forged Hong Kong passport and identity card. Both documents bore his photo but another man's name, Cheng Tung-wan.

He admitted the passport and ID card were arranged by a middleman for RMB110,000. Cheng Tung-wan agreed, after being offered money by Ferdinand Cheng, to act as a check-in facilitator for the Mainlander who sought entry to London via Hong Kong.

Cheng Tung-wan was paid $3,800 and he gave $1,400 to Ferdinand Cheng as commission.

The Mainlander was earlier jailed one year for possessing a forged passport and ID card.