Hong Kong housewife jailed 2 years for holding valuables from husband’s robbery
Jury finds her guilty but judge issues mitigated sentence, saying specific items found in defendant’s bedroom worth ‘rather insignificant’ amount
A Hong Kong housewife has been jailed for two years for holding valuables that were part of a HK$11.5 million (US$1.48 million) haul her husband stole from a businesswoman’s home, with the judge issuing a mitigated sentence as she was the mother of a newborn.
Before passing sentence on Li Yang, 35, Deputy Judge Edmond Lee Chun-man on Thursday said he believed the defendant had turned over a new leaf in recent years and was not the same person who aided her husband four years ago when the latter robbed the businesswoman’s flat with two other men on November 24, 2020.
In December that year, police found three handbags, a computer bag and a fur coat stored in the defendant’s home, where she lived at the time with her husband.
Li denied the charge of handling stolen goods and previously told the court she was not aware the items in her bedroom were associated with the robbery.
But the jury unanimously found her guilty on Wednesday.
The prosecution alleged Li was involved in renting a flat opposite the 25-year-old businesswoman’s home so the latter’s movements could be observed, arguing that she must have been aware of the planned robbery.