FIVE men deceived hundreds of job-seekers out of more than $1 million by forcing them to borrow from loansharks or cheating them at gambling, a court was told.
Tsang Hing-ming, 43, and Au Yeung Kin-kwok, 36, pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to defraud. Tsang denied a charge of attempted arson when someone refused to pay.
Hau Siu-pang, 21, Ho Wing-tat, 24 and Lee Ka-kit, 23, denied conspiracy to defraud.
District Court Judge Bokhary heard that garment maker Fortune Rich Enterprise Co and escort agency Witty Ltd advertised jobs.
Between April 1, 1993 and June 10, 1994, the victims paid for photos and registration after taking jobs.
They were then invited to take part in gambling at hotels and, when they lost, were forced to sign IOUs. Others believed they would share profits after overcharging a garment buyer.