A CREDITOR who threatened to set fire to a flat if he was not paid was yesterday convicted on two charges of blackmail, two of theft and one of criminal intimidation.
Ma Ming-kin, 35, a former taxi driver, now a warehouse worker and crane driver, was sentenced in the District Court to 18 months' jail, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of $16,500 to his victim, Yu Muk-chuen.
The court heard the victim's younger brother, Yu Muk-kwan, disappeared after borrowing money from Ma.
It was the Crown's case that Ma met Yu Muk-chuen at a minibus stand in Chuk Yuen South Estate in February last year and demanded $10,000 payment from him.
Ma threatened to set fire to the Ngau Tau Kok flat where the victim and his niece lived and to chop the girl to death unless Mr Yu located his brother, the court heard.
Terrified, Mr Yu paid the money. Five days later, Ma intercepted Mr Yu on his way to work and made similar threats. This time, Mr Yu handed over $6,500 and a $2,000 cheque. However, Ma never cashed it.