Police hunt guard after huge Taiwan robbery

Taiwanese police are hunting a security guard suspected of stealing NT$56 million (HK$13.45 million) from an armoured truck he drove before fleeing to Hong Kong in what local media has described as the island's biggest robbery.

The suspect, a former policeman identified as Lee Han-yang, 45, who worked for a local security agency, allegedly knocked out colleague Lin Yung-teh with a drugged breakfast sandwich and milk tea before making off with the money, police said yesterday.

Police said Mr Lin told them that he and Mr Lee were supposed to transport the money to the Bank of Taiwan on Tuesday morning, but he felt drowsy after consuming the sandwich and tea given to him by the suspect. Mr Lee later told him to take a rest, saying he could carry the money to the bank by himself.

Mr Lin woke up six hours later. Footage from video cameras showed Mr Lee moved the money in three bags from the truck to a car with the help of another man.

After checking airport records, police also found that Mr Lee left for Hong Kong shortly after the heist. Police said they had not ruled out the possibility Mr Lee might have fled onwards to the mainland.

Taiwanese police yesterday said the security agency had failed to follow procedures. They said it took no action after finding that the GPS tracking device placed in one of the money bags had been switched off.