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Thursday, Dec 26, 2024
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Eight men jailed up to five years and a month for nine knifepoint robberies
Eight of nine men who committed nine knifepoint robberies throughout the city between November 2019 and February 2020 were on Tuesday jailed between four years and five years and one month.
The remaining defendant, 20-year-old Shum Wing-lung, who was 16 at the material time, is remanded in custody. He will be sentenced on April 14, pending the court to retrieve reports from detention center and training center.
The eight other defendants are Chong Chin-tong, 19; Lau Pok-man, 18; Fong Chi-lok, 22; Chow Ching-lam, 18; Lee Yi-hei, 19; Chow Chi-ho, 33; Cheng Long-hei, and Tong Chi-kit. They were aged 14 to 30 when they committed the robberies four years ago.
Appearing before deputy judge Amanda Woodcock in the High Court today, all nine of them pleaded guilty to eight counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.
The court heard that the nine knifepoint robberies took place in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tin Shui Wai, and Tai Po. Three robberies occurred on the streets and the remaining at entertainment centers, gas stations and clubs.
The victims lost about HK$2 million of cash and personal belongings including phones and diamond rings worth up to HK$100,000.
Their biggest score saw Chong, Lau, and Fong grab a handbag containing HK$1.2 million of cash from a woman on Ashley Road on November 27, 2019.
When passing down the sentences, judge Woodcock said the defendants broke into places while being armed, and even held victims at knifepoint when grabbing their valuables.
Yet, given the defendants all pleaded guilty and some even helped with police investigations and testified against their accomplices, Woodcock jailed them between four years and five years and one month.
The eight other defendants are Chong Chin-tong, 19; Lau Pok-man, 18; Fong Chi-lok, 22; Chow Ching-lam, 18; Lee Yi-hei, 19; Chow Chi-ho, 33; Cheng Long-hei, and Tong Chi-kit. They were aged 14 to 30 when they committed the robberies four years ago.
Appearing before deputy judge Amanda Woodcock in the High Court today, all nine of them pleaded guilty to eight counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.
The court heard that the nine knifepoint robberies took place in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tin Shui Wai, and Tai Po. Three robberies occurred on the streets and the remaining at entertainment centers, gas stations and clubs.
The victims lost about HK$2 million of cash and personal belongings including phones and diamond rings worth up to HK$100,000.
Their biggest score saw Chong, Lau, and Fong grab a handbag containing HK$1.2 million of cash from a woman on Ashley Road on November 27, 2019.
When passing down the sentences, judge Woodcock said the defendants broke into places while being armed, and even held victims at knifepoint when grabbing their valuables.
Yet, given the defendants all pleaded guilty and some even helped with police investigations and testified against their accomplices, Woodcock jailed them between four years and five years and one month.
