Hong Kong court denies bail to suspect over 51 million yen theft at currency exchange
Japanese national Koki Hirose accused of conspiring to steal 27 million yen in connection with robbery in Sheung Wan
A Hong Kong court has remanded another Japanese man in custody on charges of conspiring to steal more than 27 million yen (US$171,680) in connection with a robbery outside a currency exchange shop last month in which 51 million yen was taken.
Koki Hirose, 57, was brought before Eastern Court in Sai Wan Ho on Monday to face one count of conspiracy to commit theft after allegedly stealing 27.9 million yen between January 30 and 31, together with other unknown accomplices.
Three other Japanese nationals – Keigo Shimomura, 23, Masato Yamaguchi, 28, and Yusuke Suzuki, 27 – were earlier charged with conspiracy to rob, along with a 52-year-old Chinese interpreter, Li Nan.
They were accused of stealing 51 million yen in cash from a 51-year-old compatriot outside the currency exchange shop in Sheung Wan on January 30.
The court heard that a police investigation indicated that Hirose was connected to Suzuki, although his specific role had not been revealed.