The leader of a 'debt-collecting' gang who assaulted a businessman and kept him under house watch for a week was jailed yesterday for three years.
On August 7 last year, Hon Chau-yuen, 33, and five others entered the Wan Chai office of Chan Hing-man, 29, and his father, Chan Tak-shing, prosecutor Duncan Darcy told the District Court.
They demanded $1 million of what they said was a $10 million loan to Mr Chan for a business venture in Thailand, the court heard. The money was said to have been loaned by a business acquaintance of the victim, Rong On-chun.
When Mr Chan denied owing the cash the gang beat him up and threatened to abduct him to Shenzhen if he did not co-operate. For a week, Hon and his gang stayed at the home of the victim and his parents in Heng Fa Chuen, Chai Wan.
Hon was convicted of blackmail, false imprisonment and three charges of assault. He denied all the charges.
Chan Man-fai, 18, was freed after Judge Donald Christie said there was no evidence to support a charge of false imprisonment.
