Suspect in attacks on prisons jumps bail

A key suspect in a spate of attacks on prisons has jumped bail and is believed to have left Hong Kong.

Jim Cheong-shing, 39, a top illegal road racer, failed to report last Thursday as part of his bail conditions.

He was among 30 people arrested by the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau in late June.

'He was allowed to be released on bail because we need time to gather some scientific evidence,' a source said.

The police are still looking for businessman Cheung Tze-keung, who was acquitted of a $167 million robbery at Kai Tak airport in 1991, to help their investigation.

But Cheung is also believed to have left Hong Kong.

Sources said the prison attacks were believed to be related to grievances of ex-prisoners.

The attacks started on April 18 when a crane was used to demolish a sentry post at Stanley Prison.

On April 24, several men used a dump truck to destroy a sentry post at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre.

On April 27, a can of paint thinner was found under the burnt-out wreck of a Correctional Services superintendent's car, outside Stanley's residential quarters.