Two men who pawned nine counterfeit Omega watches at nine pawn shops across Hong Kong are seeking to overturn their convictions on deception charges, claiming they never said the watches were genuine.
Conrad Lau Kang-chuen, 40, had bought the watches for $1,800 each in Guangdong and Tsang Shun-ting, 77, pawned them for $2,000 to $5,000 each, the Court of Appeal heard yesterday.
The pair, both watch repairers, were sentenced to 21 days' jail each in November after Eastern Court magistrate Eddie Yip Chor-man convicted them on nine counts of obtaining property by deception.
Lawyer Giles Surman, representing both men yesterday, said the pawnbrokers had relied on their own professional expertise to assess the value of the watches.
'The pawnbrokers inspected the watches and made the offer,' he said.
They had never asked Tsang if they were genuine and 'he had no duty to speak', the lawyer said.
Tsang had left his home address, phone number and identity card number with the pawnshops.