Mainlander Zhao Wei has been jailed for four months for conspiracy to defraud by entering into a bogus marriage with Hong Kong woman Tsui Wing-shan.

Zhao, 23, pleaded guilty today at Sha Tin Magistracy, while Tsui, 25, had previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. Tsui was remanded in custody pending a community service order and background report before sentencing on October 19.

Zhao was arrested in June in an anti-illegal worker operation. Immigration records revealed that he had married Tsui in August 2004. Officers doubted the marriage's authenticity and launched an investigation.

He admitted that in August 2004 he had met a local "marriage fixer", who had offered to arrange a bogus marriage between him and a Hong Kong woman for $30,000. Tsui said a middleman offered her $10,000 to take part.

In August 2004 she married Zhao through an arrangement with the same marriage fixer. It was agreed they would divorce as soon as Zhao obtained his one-way permit.