Fines not enough for off-duty cop convicted of theft, says magistrate

An off-duty policewoman was convicted of theft on Monday after stealing fruit and frozen meat worth over HK$700 at a Tsuen Wan supermarket last year, with the magistrate noting that “fines are not enough” as a punishment.

Defendant Ng Wing-yan, 30, a police inspector, appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today after she was accused of stealing two boxes of blueberries, a pack of steak, two packs of lamb, two boxes of shrimps and a pack of fish fillet at AEON in Skyline Plaza, Tsuen Wan on November 4 last year. 

Handing down the decision, the magistrate said Ng had no reason to place the unpaid goods in her tote bag instead of the shopping basket, while Ng as an officer of the law, is impossible to be unaware of her actions, thus refused to accept her explanation of “forgetting” to pay for the goods.

The magistrate noted that it only took Ng two minutes from choosing the goods to proceeding to check out at the payment counter, which is impossible for Ng to forget about the unpaid goods during such a short period.

The magistrate also said Ng had walked a certain distance after leaving the supermarket, which the weight of the unpaid goods would not go unnoticed, adding that Ng’s action of tying up the tote bag containing the unpaid goods was intentional.

Ng’s case has been adjourned to July 17 for sentencing, pending a probation officer's report and community service order report. Ng was granted bail until her next court appearance.