Debt collectors target bank to harass employee
The headquarters of the Standard Chartered Bank was daubed with red paint early yesterday in the second apparent attack on the bank by debt collectors chasing payment from an employee.
A 19-year-old man was caught by security guards after three men were spotted on closed-circuit television splashing paint on the rear doors of the building on Queen's Road Central at about 1.30am.
Papers were found at the scene demanding settlement of a debt by a staff member of the bank.
A bank spokeswoman said there was a similar attack on the Millennium City branch, Kwun Tong, in March, aimed at the employee.
She would not reveal details about the employee, as police were investigating.
Police said a security guard in the control room at the bank headquarters saw yesterday's attack through surveillance cameras.
'The guard saw someone pouring something on the glass doors,' a spokeswoman said.
When the guard and his colleague ran out to investigate, the three culprits jumped into a taxi.
The pair gave chase for about 200 metres before they stopped the cab at the junction of Queen's Road Central and Ice House Street.
'The two guards caught a 19-year-old man, but the other two culprits managed to escape during a struggle,' the spokeswoman said.
Officers began a search but no further arrests were made.
A bag containing red paint and an empty can of thinner was found in the taxi, police said.
Anti-triad officers from Central Police Station are investigating.
Police received 22,417 reports concerning debt collection last year. About 9 per cent of them involved criminal activities such as intimidation and vandalism.
Daubing threatening slogans in red paint on doors, chaining doors, jamming door locks with toothpicks or glue and making nuisance calls are common tactics used by debt collectors.
Last night the suspect was being held for questioning. No charges had been laid.
