Surveillance camera footage showed Ho had met a security guard at a commercial building after the robbery, who turned out to be his brother. Photo: Felix Wong
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https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3025571/repeat-robber-admits-snatching-six-pieces-diamond Law and Crime
Serial robber confesses to stealing diamond jewellery worth HK$5.5 million from Hong Kong jewellery store after being granted parole from a life sentence
- Ho Tung-sing, 61, masterminded a series of armed robberies between 1986 and 1991 and once gunned down a man
- He was granted parole over an armed robbery for which he was jailed for life, when he raided a Tsim Sha Tsui jewellery store on May 23 last year
On May 23 last year, Ho Tung-sing prised open a glass cabinet in a jewellery shop in Tsim Sha Tsui and made off with six diamond pieces. Photo: Felix Wong
A serial burglar admitted to snatching six diamond pieces worth HK$5.5 million (US$701,280) in a jewellery store heist last year, after he was granted parole and released from a life sentence, a court heard on Tuesday.
Ho Tung-sing, who will be 62 this month, masterminded a series of armed robberies form 1986 to 1991 and once gunned a man down during one of his thefts. He was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was convicted on 19 charges, including manslaughter and robbery. The sentence was later reduced to more than 37 years after a review.
Ho was paroled in 2014, but was placed under the supervision of the Correctional Services Department before his complete release.
Prosecution said Ho, who received a university degree in prison, would have been a free man in July last year, had he not committed the crime in this case two months before the end of his supervision period.
On May 23, Ho and his accomplice, both wearing masks, hats and gloves, raided the jewellery shop in Tsim Sha Tsui. He prised open a glass cabinet and stole six pieces of jewellery inside.
Surveillance camera footage showed Ho had met a security guard at a commercial building after the robbery. The guard turned out to be Ho’s younger brother, who revealed his identity to police.
Police intercepted Ho in Yau Ma Tei five days after the raid. He then told the officers he had intended to surrender and was remorseful. All jewellery was recovered from his bag.
His lawyer said he had incurred debts of around HK$500,000 after his construction business failed. He agreed to join the robbery on the invitation of an accomplice.
Mrs Justice Audrey Campbell-Moffat described Ho as a “career criminal”, who had a real chance of reoffending, given his 41 previous convictions, including 25 counts of robbery.
The judge will sentence him on November 19, after the prosecution reviewed past cases to see whether a violation of the supervision order would affect the sentencing of a paroled person.