PJ arrests four in university case involving fake qualifications

The Judiciary Police (PJ) has apprehended four suspects linked to a scandal involving counterfeit academic qualifications at the University of Science and Technology (MUST).

In total, 24 mainland students were found to have been admitted using fraudulent credentials, with 20 fleeing before authorities could act.

The police said in a press conference yesterday that it has successfully intercepted the four students, who confessed to employing agencies in mainland China to forge results from the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE).

This deception allowed them to bypass the university’s qualification review process, ultimately leading to their enrollment in various first-year programs at MUST.

The case came to light at the end of October when the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) received a tip-off regarding the use of false qualifications for university applications.

Following this report, universities conducted verification checks, prompting the police investigation that began Oct. 29.

Among the 24 implicated students were 13 men and 11 women, all enrolled in diverse fields of study.

The arrested students hail from Hebei, Zhejiang, Shenzhen, and Jiangxi provinces.

They have now admitted to never having taken the necessary diploma examinations and revealed that their families had arranged for the forgery through a mainland agency.

Before their enrollment in August, a criminal group had even coached them on how to respond to inquiries from university staff.

So far, Christine Choi Yuk-lin, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Education, condemned the recent fraudulent applications for university admission as “outrageous” during a radio interview Saturday.

She stressed the seriousness of the offense, stating that using fake documents is a crime that could result in a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Following an investigation by the HKEAA, it was confirmed that all submitted DSE certificates were counterfeit.

The PJ said forging academic documents is a serious offense, punishable by up to three years in prison.

Authorities urge young people to uphold the law and maintain personal integrity when applying for educational opportunities or jobs.

A criminal record can severely hinder future career prospects, and individuals are cautioned against risking legal repercussions.

This incident is one of the first known cases in recent years involving attempts to use fraudulent HKDSE qualifications for admission to universities outside Hong Kong.

Notably, other universities in Macau have reported no additional cases after enhancing their verification processes.

Nadia Shaw