From crime fighter to criminal: serial offender who stole HK$6.5 million in banking scam was 32-year veteran of Hong Kong police
- Chan Wing-kai had a litany of previous convictions and had promised a judge he would turn over a new leaf after being jailed in 2016
- But the 62-year-old returned to a life of crime just three months after getting out of prison
A former Hong Kong policeman who promised never to break the law again before he was jailed for burglary in 2016, went back on his word just three months after his release, this time stealing more than HK$6.5 million (US$830,973).
Chan Wing-kai, 62, had promised district judge Josiah Lam Wai-kuen that he would not be on the wrong side of the law again when he pleaded for leniency after stealing HK$70,000 from a restaurant safe on January 11, 2016.
By then, Chan had seven previous convictions that involved theft, dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. Lam said he believed there was still time for Chan to start afresh and urged him to change his ways.
The man nodded and thanked the judge before he was taken away to serve 20 months behind bars. But he was back in the dock less than three years later.
The officer of 32 years pleaded guilty last Friday to two counts of theft and three of conspiracy to steal, an offence punishable by 10 years in prison. He was jailed for three years and 10 months on Monday.