A computer shop owner who sold cheap circuit boards even after he realised they were stolen was yesterday jailed for 14 months.
District Court Judge Bernard Whaley said he could not give Chan Kwok-chung, 28, who had pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, a suspended sentence as requested by defence barrister Bernard Chung Wai-keung.
'Offences like handling stolen goods are closely associated with burglary,' said Judge Whaley.
'People who received stolen goods as seen in this case may facilitate a commission of offence of burglary and make it easier for burglars to dispose of their stolen property.'
Judge Whaley added that the remorseful Chan had his term reduced from two years to 16 months because of his guilty plea, and a further reduction to 14 months because of his barrister's strong plea for a lesser sentence.
Mr Chung told the court that the offence committed by Chan - who had a clean record - was a 'one-off' incident.