Three housewives were jailed yesterday for conspiracy to defraud prison officers, in the first case of its kind locally.
Liu Lirong, 33, Shuai Shaoping, 29, and Kwan Man-kau, 38, said they were paid to pose as inmates' friends to visit them.
Kwun Tong Court heard that they had worked for a company that advertised its visit-arrangement services outside the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.
The three women and six co-defendants initially pleaded not guilty, but the trio later changed their pleas to guilty. They each received two-month sentences.
Lawyer Victor Ho, representing Liu and Shuai, said they did not know the seriousness of what they had done, but pleaded guilty and were regretful.
Matthew Ngai, for Kwan, said she had worked for the firm after being introduced by a relative.
"She thinks that she was very stupid for having carelessly mistrusted others," Ngai said.