'Walter Mitty' officer jailed for villa raid
A CONSTABLE who raided a Mongkok villa after fantasising about being a detective was jailed for a year yesterday.
Judge Jackson described Ma Kam-cheong, 29, as a Walter Mitty character and said it was a 'most exceptional and bizarre case' before jailing him for a year at the District Court.
He said Ma's dishonest conduct was a 'flagrant breach of the trust' the public placed in police officers.
The court heard that on May 21 Ma went to the villa, showed his ID card and said he was checking operating licences. He was out of uniform but carrying a toy gun and a set of handcuffs.
Ma took credit cards from customers and later withdrew $9,600 cash. Moments after he left, the customers became suspicious and asked the villa cashier to check if Ma was a police officer. The cashier ran out and saw Ma using the card to take out cash.
Ma's defence barrister, Stuart Cotsen, said the root of the problem arose out of Ma's dream of becoming a detective, which he had nurtured since his schooldays. Mr Cotsen said the defendant joined the force in 1988 and was a uniformed constable attached to Sha Tin station.
'No punishment could be given out as great as he has already suffered,' said Mr Cotsen. 'He took a bitter twist and ended as a criminal.' He produced a letter from Ma's superior showing he had received several commendations and had passed examinations for promotion to sergeant.
Judge Jackson accepted that Ma lived in a 'world of fantasy' and that his delusions encouraged him to act like a detective when committing the offences.
Ma had destroyed his promising career and the judge agreed he was unlikely to commit the offence again.
He said this 'sad personal tragedy' would live with him for the rest of his life.
The judge took into consideration Ma's guilty plea and remorse before passing sentence Ma admitted possessing an imitation firearm and two charges of theft.
