Man jailed for theft

A 44-year-old man was sentenced to one year and five months' imprisonment at the District Court today (October 20) upon conviction of five counts of theft.

The court heard that the defendant had misappropriated the clients' money amounting to HK$2 million from his law firm without the clients' knowledge or authorization between April 2001 and June 2002.

After suspicious transfers of funds were detected in several client accounts of the firm, a report was made to the Police in August 2002.

Commercial Crime Bureau officers arrested the defendant at his residence on July 29, 2004.

Investigation revealed that in most of the cases, the clients' money was subsequently reimbursed from the defendant without actual loss incurred. However, one client had suffered an actual loss of HK$500,000 and the money was not returned to the client.

The defendant was subsequently charged with eight counts of theft and the case was brought to District Court for trial in October 2006.

On October 4 2006, the defendant pleaded guilty to five counts of theft and sentence was handed down today.


Police Report No.7

Issued by PPRB

Ends/Friday, October 20, 2006