The head of Chu Hai College's department of journalism appeared in court yesterday accused of stealing a T-shirt and two packets of biscuits from the Marks & Spencer store in Times Square.
Suen Woon-chun, 59, who is on bail, pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft.
Her defence counsel, John Hagon, told Eastern Court she had mistaken a nearby shoe store as one belonging to Marks & Spencer.
The court heard that on September 29 last year, a security officer saw the professor from the Tsuen Wan college putting a pink T-shirt worth $195 into a plastic bag. She then moved to the food section upstairs and bought three packets of biscuits. She took another two packets of biscuits and put them in one of her plastic bags without paying for them, the court heard. Store security officer Wong Kam-lan, 44, intercepted Suen as she was about to enter a shoe shop opposite Marks & Spencer. Ms Wong said Suen was unco-operative and had to be pulled back into the store.
After finding the unpaid-for items in Suen's bags, Ms Wong called the police, the court heard.
Mr Hagon said Suen had co-operated when asked to return to Marks & Spencer. He said she then gave a reasonable explanation as to why the unpaid items had been in her possession.
