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SCMP Reporter

Wife claimed to be a member of Japan's imperial family

A New Zealand businessman and his Japanese wife, who was presented as a member of Japan's  imperial family, tried to use hundreds  of fake 500 billion yen (HK$33 billion) Japanese bonds to deceive banks in Hong Kong, a court heard yesterday.

Dennis Ziengs,  chief executive of Asia for Fortis Bank, told the District Court that  Desmond James Albert Conway,  39, and his wife Machiko Conway,  55, said they wanted to open an account with the bank to deposit the bonds to fund compensation for  second world war 'comfort women'.

The couple pleaded not guilty to attempted fraud. Desmond Conway also denied another charge of attempted fraud and one charge of possession of false documents.

Opening the prosecution's case, Barrister Francis Burkett  said Desmond Conway told Mr Ziengs in October 2003 that his wife was a granddaughter of a former prime minister in Japan and they wanted to open an account with Fortis Bank to deposit Japanese bonds.

In December 2003, Conway told the bank's  chief investment officer,  Christiaan Overdijk, that  his wife had been entrusted by the Japanese emperor with about US$500 million  to fund a trust to compensate Japanese war victims, Mr Burkett said.

Conway then allegedly told Mr Overdijk he had become 'investment manager' of the fund,  set up in memory of his wife's grandfather, and he wanted to open an account and obtain a loan of 1 per cent of the total fund amount.

Mr Burkett alleged that the couple visited Fortis Bank on April 26 the next year, claiming they had 200 bonds each with a face value of 500 billion yen and sought a loan of 5 per cent of the bonds' value, using them as security.

Conway had also visited JPMorgan Chase Bank on December 8, 2004, and claimed that his wife was a member of Japan's imperial  family in an attempt to open an investment account using 200 to 300 bonds as collateral.

Since the genuineness of the bonds was in doubt, banking relationship manager Edward Sun  declined the request, the court heard.

On December 20, 2004, a police search of the couple's residence in Montebello at The Peak found 400 copies of counterfeit 'Japan balance of refund National Bond' to a total value of $200 trillion yen,  Mr Burkett said.

The hearing continues today before District Court Deputy Judge Ian Thomas.



Couple in billion-dollar fraud bid