Duo jailed for conspiracy to steal

Two men, aged 61 and 42, were sentenced to 45 months' and 38 months' imprisonment respectively at the District Court today (April 13) after being convicted of conspiracy to steal.

The court heard that the 61-year-old man, who was a staff member of a law firm, conspired with the 42-year-old man to steal HK$6 million from the law firm.

In early November 2004, the 61-year-old man first introduced the 42-year-old man as a client to his law firm on the pretext that the latter had to deposit HK$6 million at the law firm as proof of fund in order to buy machinery from the Mainland.

Meanwhile, a 46-year-old male victim was persuaded to pay HK$6 million to the law firm as stake-holding for buying three properties and six car parks in Hong Kong.

After the money was deposited into the bank account of the law firm on November 23, 2004, the 42-year-old man claimed that it was his proof of fund and later asked for refund as the machinery transactions were cancelled. The law firm then issued a cheque to him who fled away after clearing the cheque.

Police Commercial Crime Bureau took up the investigations after a report was made on November 27, 2004.

The two defendants were arrested on November 29, 2004 and September 15, 2005 respectively. They were jointly charged with conspiracy to steal while the 61-year-old man was additionally charged with failing to surrender to custody without reasonable cause as he had absconded court bail.

Both pleaded guilty to the charges on March 22, 2006 and the sentences were meted out today.


Police Report No. 13

Issued by PPRB

END/Thursday, April 13, 2006