A Vietnamese man who wants to kick his drug habit in a Hong Kong prison has been jailed for 31 months for carrying three bullets when he was caught sneaking across the border from the mainland almost three months ago.
Judge Alan Wright of the District Court said yesterday in sentencing Pham Luong-pho it was well known in neighbouring countries that people entering Hong Kong illegally would be repatriated to their home countries after being arrested.
As a result there was a 'thriving business' in Vietnam in which people wanting to be prosecuted and imprisoned after being caught entering Hong Kong unlawfully were being sold two to three bullets, Judge Wright said.
The judge also said there had been debate among judges on the proper sentencing for such offenders.
Pham, 36, yesterday pleaded guilty to a count of illegal possession of ammunition and another count of unlawful entry to Hong Kong.
Judge Wright sentenced Pham to prison for 16 months for illegal possession of ammunition after taking into account his guilty plea. He also sentenced him 15 months for unlawful entry to Hong Kong. The judge ordered that Pham serve his prison terms consecutively, giving him 31 months behind bars.