Man charged with robberies

A MAN has gone on trial in the High Court accused of holding up nine boutiques in less than four months.

Wong Ka-wai, 22, has denied nine charges of robbery and one of carrying an imitation firearm with intent to commit an arrestable offence. He is being tried by a jury before Mr Justice Bewley.

Counsel prosecuting on a fiat Simon Chiu told the court the nine robberies were carried out between March 1 and June 11 last year. Eight were in Tsim Sha Tsui and one in Mongkok.

The Crown alleged that, on each occasion, Wong pointed a pistol at the sales assistant or showed her its butt. He escaped with cash totalling more than $30,000, plus some valuables.

The hearing continues.