A RESPECTED community elder was yesterday convicted of stealing $3,200 intended to be used for ancestor worship.
Tang Siu-sum, 62, a retired farmer, pocketed the money after leasing out a plot of land belonging to the Tang Hung Wai tso near Yuen Long.
A tso is a traditional Chinese family trust which holds land in common ownership for future generations. Rents collected by the tso are pooled for ancestor worship.
As manager of the Tang Hung Wai tso in Sek Kong village, Tang was responsible for arranging leases on the clan's land. But in 1991 he lined his own pockets with two months' rent intended for community coffers.
Tuen Mun magistrate Allan Wyeth fined Tang $4,000 yesterday after convicting him on two counts of theft. He denied both counts.
Tang was also ordered to pay the trust $3,200 compensation.
