Police freeze HK$70 million raised by Spark Alliance for Hong Kong protesters, with group suspected of using money for personal gain and rewards
- Four people related to the fundraising platform were arrested, with the force alleging money was also spent on insurance products
- Force insider says money could be used as rewards to lure teens into taking part in protests
A police insider said that initial investigations indicated dozens of teenagers were paid thousands of dollars each through fundraising platform Spark Alliance HK to join protests, an allegation a source connected to the group strongly denied.
Acting senior superintendent Chan Wai-kei of the Narcotics Bureau’s financial investigation unit said the four, aged between 17 and 50, were arrested during a raid on Thursday.
Officers seized HK$130,000 in cash and a receipt for HK$165,000 spent on supermarket coupons, two laser pointers, six arrows and a large amount of protest gear such as helmets and gas masks.
Spark Alliance, set up after the 2016 Mong Kok riot to help arrested or jailed activists, had crowdfunded about HK$80 million over the past six months. But police said they had come across suspicious financial transactions, including large amounts spent on personal insurance products.