Suspect in Hong Kong architect’s kidnapping took HK$130,000 in cash, valuables from victim’s home, court hears

Guizhou construction worker Yang Chao, 27, faces five charges, including robbery and false imprisonment

Reading Time:1 minute

The suspect being escorted to Kwun Tong Court. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 1:00pm, 20 Dec 2016Updated: 11:16pm, 20 Dec 2016

A mainlander accused of breaking into a luxury home in Hong Kong to kidnap a veteran architect and his wife allegedly pilfered more than HK$130,000 worth of cash and valuables, a court heard during his first appearance on Tuesday.

Guizhou resident Yang Chao allegedly robbed architect Ma Kim-see, 67, and his wife in their house at Bella Vista in Sai Kung last week, taking HK$10,500, 7,000 yuan (HK$7,812) and A$4,500 (HK$25,434) in cash as well as a mobile phone, a rucksack and some silver ornaments worth a total of HK$87,600, Kwun Tong Court heard.

Yang, 27, also allegedly “unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned” Ma’s wife, Lai Bik-lin, taking her from their home to Eastpoint City, a mall in the area. It is alleged that he did the same to Ma from his home to the nearby A Kung Wan Road.

The defendant, who had a receding hairline and was clad in a long-sleeved black T-shirt, was read the five charges he faced in Putonghua by a court interpreter.

He has yet to be required to make a plea to two counts of robbery, two of false imprisonment and one further of remaining in Hong Kong without the immigration director’s approval.