ONE of Hong Kong's most notorious criminals, who stole more than $32 million worth of jewellery in two armed robberies, lost his appeal against a 28-year prison sentence yesterday.
The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence imposed in April on Yip Yuk-sang, known as Goosehead, after he pleaded guilty to seven firearm and robbery charges.
Delivering judgment, Mr Justice Bokhary said the lengthy term was justified in view of the 'dreadful' and 'prevalent' offences committed by Yip.
Yip, 34, was given sentences of eight to 12 years for his offences by Mr Justice Duffy in the High Court. Part of the terms were to run consecutively, making a total of 28 years.
The charges arose from two almost identical holdups at Chow Tai Fook Jewellery shop in Queen's Road Central; one on October 26, 1991, and another on March 12, 1992.
In both raids, Yip and other gang members fired at police and hijacked cars when they fled the scene.