An unemployed man who falsely claimed he had information about the whereabouts of missing autistic teenager Yu Man-hon in an attempt to share a slice of a $1 million reward appeared in court yesterday.
Tao Wai-hung, 30, faced one count of obtaining property by deception and another for attempted theft.
Fanling Court heard Tao had met Yu Pui-lam, the father of Man-hon, outside Maxim's restaurant at Sheung Shui KCR station on September 21. He allegedly deceived Mr Yu out of $1,500 and 580 yuan (HK$530) by falsely claiming he had information on the whereabouts of the 15-year-old boy, who disappeared on August 24 in Shenzhen. The Immigration Department has admitted a series of blunders led to Man-hon, who has a mental age of two, being allowed to slip over the border and then being refused entry back into the SAR.
On September 27, Tao also allegedly attempted to steal $25,000 from Mr Yu at the entrance of Tai Wo KCR station.
As part of the extensive hunt for the boy, corporations and individuals have offered at least $1.3 million for information leading to his whereabouts. The reward money attracted a flood of false alarms. Man-hon has still to be found.
No plea was taken and Magistrate Andrew Ma adjourned the case to November 9. Tao was released on $4,000 bail.
