Serial robber confesses to stealing diamond jewellery worth HK$5.5 million from Hong Kong jewellery store after being granted parole from a life sentence
- Ho Tung-sing, 61, masterminded a series of armed robberies between 1986 and 1991 and once gunned down a man
- He was granted parole over an armed robbery for which he was jailed for life, when he raided a Tsim Sha Tsui jewellery store on May 23 last year
A serial burglar admitted to snatching six diamond pieces worth HK$5.5 million (US$701,280) in a jewellery store heist last year, after he was granted parole and released from a life sentence, a court heard on Tuesday.
Ho Tung-sing, who will be 62 this month, masterminded a series of armed robberies form 1986 to 1991 and once gunned a man down during one of his thefts. He was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was convicted on 19 charges, including manslaughter and robbery. The sentence was later reduced to more than 37 years after a review.
Ho was paroled in 2014, but was placed under the supervision of the Correctional Services Department before his complete release.
Prosecution said Ho, who received a university degree in prison, would have been a free man in July last year, had he not committed the crime in this case two months before the end of his supervision period.
On May 23, Ho and his accomplice, both wearing masks, hats and gloves, raided the jewellery shop in Tsim Sha Tsui. He prised open a glass cabinet and stole six pieces of jewellery inside.