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Police arrested one of the two Japanese men who reported the robbery after inconsistencies revealed he was the inside accomplice who leaked the cash transport route to the robbers.
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Hong Kong police arrested six people in connection with yesterday’s brazen daylight robbery of 51 million yen (~ HK$2.58 million) outside a currency exchange on Des Voeux Road Central in Sheung Wan.
The two Japanese victims arrived with approximately ¥190 million to exchange. As they stepped out of a taxi, two men snatched a backpack containing 51 million yen and escaped in a waiting private car.
Within six hours of the 9.47am incident, officers arrested two Japanese men—believed to be the robbers—and a mainland woman suspected of assisting in preparations and fleeing the scene with them at the airport. Police recovered 4.6 million yen in cash from the trio and their luggage.
Further investigation in Tsim Sha Tsui led to the arrest of a 28-year-old local man and a 29-year-old mainland man employed at a virtual currency exchange, suspected of helping launder part of the proceeds. Another 7 million yen in cash was recovered from a second exchange shop.
Deep investigation uncovered that the robbers possessed unusually precise knowledge of the victims’ travel route and arrival time.
During questioning, one of the original complainants—a 27-year-old Japanese man—gave contradictory and inconsistent statements.
Police concluded he acted as the inside accomplice, deliberately leaking information to the robbers in an attempt to share in the loot. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery.
The victims’ Japanese company is involved in precious metals trading.
Police believe the targeted robbery stemmed from plans to bring yen to Hong Kong, exchange it for other currencies, and profit from forex differences.
The police highlighted the suspects’ rapid, violent method and the use of insider information, which authorities described as serious.
