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JULIE CHU

A robber who gave himself up after 22 years on the run was jailed for 15 months in the High Court yesterday.
Garage worker Ma Hon-kwong, 54, claimed he had tried to give himself before, only to be told by police to “go home” or “stop playing”. He said they had not even checked his ID card.
After discussing the problem with his sister he decided that the best solution was to walk into Kwun Tong Police Station, where he was arrested for the offence back in May 1993.
Ma was arrested in June this year. He pleaded guilty to one count of going equipped to steal.
He was originally charged with conspiracy to rob a warehouse in the Hoi Bun Industrial Building, Wing Yip Street, in Kwun Tong, with nine other men in May 1993.
Prosecutor Rosaline Leung said the policeman who took the original caution statement from Ma had since died and other officers who were involved in the investigation were no longer available.
The prosecution was left to rely on four caution statements made by Ma to pursue the lesser charge.
Deputy Judge Audrey Campbell-Moffat SC said the case was “substantially delayed”.
She accepted that Ma had not been in further trouble during his 22 years in hiding. She also found there was no evidence to show he knew the case involved weapons, including a revolver, and violence.
She found Ma should be jailed for 18 months. Due to his delayed plea, she only reduced his sentence by three months.
The court heard the police had been alerted that a criminal syndicate planned to rob the warehouse, which stored electronic parts, and officers had set up an ambush nearby.
They watched as the gang blindfolded and gagged two watchmen and two security guards before arresting the 10 gang members at the scene.
Ma was arrested as he was walking towards a truck. He said to the officer: “I only came here to drive.” He claimed two friends had asked him to steal a truck, so he had gone out that night equipped with work gloves, two screwdrivers, a pair of pliers and a hammer. But he said he had no idea of the details of the robbery.
Five defendants were convicted in 1994 and 1995 and jailed for between five and 71/2 years. The other four are still at large.
Ma’s lawyer told the court how Ma hid in the northern part of the city over the years. But his elderly mother had fallen ill in recent years and begged Ma to surrender. His son also refused to talk to him, so Ma was determined to admit his past sins.


‘Police told me to stop playing’: after 22 years on the run, Hong Kong robber turns himself in

No Caption Available.

Ma decided that the best solution was to walk into Kwun Tong Police Station where he was arrested for the offence back in May 1993. Photo: SCMP Pictures

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Man was originally charged with conspiracy to rob warehouse in Kwun Tong with nine other men in May 1993
