Man accused of Transformers blackmail attempt to appear in Kowloon City Court
A 35-year-old Hongkonger accused of attempting to extort money from the crew of the fourth Transformers film in To Kwa Wan will face a blackmail charge in Kowloon City Court tomorrow.
Three other racketeers, suspected members of the Sun Yee On triad, are still being sought by police in connection with the alleged extortion case.
The incident happened at about 2.30pm on Tuesday when the crew was checking the site on the roof of a residential block in To Kwa Wan Road.
Four men allegedly approached the crew, verbally threatened them, and demanded money, according to police.
Officers arrested the 35-year-old man at the scene but the other three escaped.
The suspect, surnamed Tse, was charged by police with one count of blackmail today and will appear in Kowloon City Court tomorrow.
It was the second attempt to blackmail the Paramount Pictures crew in Hong Kong. Last Thursday two men had attempted to extort $HK100,000 from the film crew during filming near Fook Cheong Building in King’s Road, Quarry Bay.
Two brothers, Mak Chi-shing, 27, and Mak Chi-hang, 28, have since been charged, each with one count of blackmail and one count of assaulting a police officer. They were released on bail today after being remanded in custody for almost a week.
Today the crew continued shooting a scene from on the roof of the To Kwa Wan Road building and on Mei King Street in To Kwa Wan.
A police spokeswoman said police would continue to maintain law and order and protect the safety of the public.
