appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Chris Lau

A mainland waiter who burgled the mansion of a HSBC executive, stealing watches and jewellery valued at more than HK$2.3 million has been sentenced to 40 months in prison.
Liu Huai Qilin, 25, snuck across the border illegally with three friends he only knew by their online gaming nicknames. They burgled HSBC Asia-Pacific chief executive Wong Tung-shun’s home at The Peak in October last year, the District Court heard on Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty to one count of remaining in Hong Kong unlawfully and another of burglary.
The court also heard that the burglars formed a “human ladder” to break into the house, but Liu was eventually left behind after he injured himself and failed to keep pace with others running away.
In mitigation, his lawyer Kevin Ng Kin-wah said the father-of-one committed the crime because his marriage back home in Guizhou left him 60,000 yuan (HK$71,200) in debt.
Prosecutor Simon Kwong Cho-yan said after Liu was arrested, he made full confessions.
Liu told police that he had met Xiao Fu, Ah Tung, and Xiao Xiong online two to three years ago, and the foursome decided to come to Hong Kong to steal, Kwong said.

They climbed through metal fences in Shau Tau Kok on October 9 to enter Hong Kong.
Two days later, Kwong said, they broke into Wong’s house by climbing trees and stepping over the barbed wire fences.
“They formed a ladder by stepping on each other’s shoulders and climbed to the second floor of the apartment, where a window was prised open by Xiao Xiong using screwdrivers,” Kwong said.
But they were discovered not long after they entered the apartment and started stealing.
Liu left last and hurt himself while fleeing, Kwong said.
READ MORE: Chinese man arrested after HSBC Asia chief reports theft of HK$2.45 mln from luxury Hong Kong home on The Peak
After being separated from the others, he took a taxi to Sha Tin Hospital. He was arrested after police were called, Kwong said.
Liu stole 12 watches – including Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, and Breguet models – worth about HK$2 million. He also stole jewellery, worth HK$231,000.
But one of the watches, valued at HK$400,000, was later recovered in Wong’s garden that night.
The court identified the victim as “X”, though in previous hearings the HSBC’s director’s name was shown.
Sentencing Liu, deputy judge Kathie Cheung Kit-yee said there were aggravating features.
“First, [the crime] was committed by a total of four people. Second, substantial properties were lost and had not been recovered,” she said.
Responding to the mitigation put forth by Ng’s suggestion that it was not an organised crime, the judge noted that Liu took a trip to Hong Kong to steal.
She said gloves and screwdrivers were used during the break-in.
She also said that by wearing hoods and spending time observing Wong’s security camera system, Liu and the others attempted to avoid being identified.


Mainland man sentenced to more than three years jail for $2.3m heist of HSBC exec’s Peak mansion

<p>Mainlander sneaked over the border illegally with three others, court heard</p>

Photo of Peter Wong, Chief Executive of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. Pictured in his office at Central. 03AUG10

Police at HSBC Asia-Pacific chief Peter Wong Tung-shun's luxury home on The Peak. Photo: Dickson Lee

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Mainlander sneaked over the border illegally with three others, court heard


Mainland man sentenced to more than three years jail for $2.3m heist of HSBC exec’s Peak mansion

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Mainlander sneaked over the border illegally with three others, court heard

Mainlander sneaked over the border illegally with three others, court heard