TWO brothers who kidnapped a 12-year-old boy and demanded a $150,000 ransom after raiding his Tuen Mun home were yesterday each sentenced to 14 years' jail at the High Court.
Lam Hing-yin, 26, and Lam Hing-chue, 23, both illegal immigrants, admitted one count each of robbery and forcible detention.
Their older brother, Lam Hing-loi, 32, and their cousin, Lam Hing-chiu, 29, who helped them after the boy was abducted, also admitted the kidnap charge and were sentenced to six and five years' jail respectively.
Mr Justice Wong said in sentencing the men there was no doubt Lam Hing-yin and Lam Hing-chue were the principal offenders.
Although the boy and his mother did not suffer physically, he highlighted the psychological effects.
He noted that it was too common for people entering Hongkong illegally to commit a serious crime to make quick financial benefit.
It was necessary to make it clear that the court always took a most serious view of this sort of behaviour, said the judge, holding that both offences merited a heavy and deterrent sentence.