Former HK football team player gets probation order for criminal damage

A former Hong Kong football team player was sentenced to a 12-month probation order for criminal damage after he splashed paints when collecting debts. 

Tommy Chuck Yiu-kwok, 26, pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today. 

Chuck was arrested after he splashed plaint onto three residential units in Tseung Kwan O when collecting debts in January this year. 

He later confessed to the police that he had no income at all for 10 months under the pandemic, which caused him to work as a debt collector. 

Apart from the 12-month probation order, Chuck must live in places and work as specified by magistrate Bina Chinarai. He must also regularly provide urine sample for drug tests, undergo psychotherapy and rehabilitation. 

Defense in mitigation pointed out that Chuck was raised by his grand parents, and they also promised to monitor Chuck's situations when he undergoes therapy. It added that the last football club Chuck played for will hire him again as well. 

Chinarai therefore sentenced him to a probation order. 

Chuck played as a striker in a number of Hong Kong football clubs. He once represented the Hong Kong team in 2016 and played for a Swiss football club.