Hong Kong police to check for security loopholes or negligence after rape suspect hangs himself in cell
Commissioner Stephen Lo says investigation will determine if officers followed procedures, such as carrying out a body search and inspecting the detention cell
Hong Kong police have launched an investigation into possible security loopholes or negligence after a man arrested on suspicion of raping and robbing a 22-year-old student in Kowloon Bay earlier this week took his own life in his cell on Thursday.
Police commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung said the force was highly concerned and had appointed a regional crime unit from a different area of the city to find out what happened, including checks on all closed-circuit television camera records at the police station where the incident took place.
A report will be submitted to the Coroner’s Court and an autopsy carried out.
A police source with knowledge of the incident said the suspect had obtained a computer cable within Sau Mau Ping police station. At about 3am he interfered with fire ducting inside his cell, triggering a fire alarm and sprinklers. He was moved to another cell, where he was found hanged at about 9am.
The Fire Services Department received an alarm report and firemen found a damaged sprinkler. It classified the incident as a false alarm
The suspect was certified dead shortly after being taken to United Christian Hospital.
Lo said further details could not be disclosed at this stage but the force would follow up if evidence of misconduct was found as there were strict guidelines for officers dealing with suspects in custody.
“There are standard procedures to ensure their safety, such as body searches and cell inspections.
“We are still investigating ... the procedures involved in this case and whether any negligence was involved will be disclosed to the Coroner’s Court,” Lo said, adding that possible security loopholes would also be examined.
The investigation into the rape and robbery case would continue, he said.
The man, 48 years old and surnamed Lam, was arrested at nearby Po Tat Estate shortly after 5am on Wednesday, after officers tailed him for a day.
It was understood he was unemployed and had at least 20 convictions for crimes including car theft and drugs. After his arrest he was taken to his flat in Sau Chi House at Sau Mau Ping Estate, where officers looked for evidence.
On Sunday he was said to have snatched a smartphone from a woman on a Kwun Tong Road footbridge as she was on her way home, before he fled. She gave chase and upon reaching the bottom of the footbridge, found the man hiding in a flowerbed, where he grabbed her, according to police.
Police said he took her to a corner, tied her wrists together and raped her. He allegedly stole her phone, two bank cards and an identification card, before leaving her, tied up.
The woman managed to free herself after three hours.
Lawmaker James To Kun-sun, vice-chairman of the Legislative Council’s security panel, said he was shocked by the incident, since police should have enough experience in dealing with those in custody, and detention cells were designed to prevent such incidents.
He said all prisoners, particularly suspected sex offenders and those who may be unstable, should be closely monitored to prevent them harming themselves or others.
Lawmaker Elizabeth Quat, a panel member, urged police to review how they would improve the situation and prevent repeat incidents.
There is no CCTV monitoring of cells due to privacy concerns, but officers inspect them regularly.
There have been several cases of suspects committing or attempting suicide in police cells in recent years.
A 43-year-old man arrested for sexual assault hanged himself with clothes and blankets at North Point police station in July last year. Another suspect took his life also by hanging himself with clothes in Western police station in 2014, while a man arrested for theft was stopped when he tried to hang himself in a police station in Hung Hom in 2008.
