Read More
A 35-year-old cop was handed 240 hours of community service on Tuesday after he earlier pleaded guilty to stealing over HK$2,000 worth of plushies from a claw machine shop using a magnet.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
The defendant Chau Kwan-wai has already been suspended from duty. He earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of theft for stealing nine plushies valued at HK$2,044 from a claw machine shop on the 1/F of Waldorf Garden Shopping Centre in Tuen Mun on January 13.
Chau appeared before acting principal magistrate Daniel Tang Siu-hung at Tuen Mun Court without any legal representatives.
In sentencing, Tang noted that Chau didn’t disclose his identity as a police officer during mitigation and pointed out that it was an aggravating factor that a law enforcement officer committed a crime.
The probation officer previously suggested handing down 80 to 180 hours of community service but the length was further adjusted today by Tang to 240 hours.
The court heard that around 1 am that day, the owner of the claw machine discovered via the security camera that Chau was using a square magnet to attract the chain to drag the prize plushies to the exit gate of the machine.
The owner immediately rushed to the scene and intercepted Chau who attempted to flee but was subdued. The owner also successfully seized the nine dolls from the pockets of Chau’s trousers and his bag.
Chau was later arrested. Under police caution, he claimed: “I didn’t steal anything.” He also remained silent during the police recorded meeting.
File photo.
