A Hong Kong businessman who ordered his cab to stop while he scooped up money from Wan Chai’s Christmas Eve cash spill has been sentenced to five months in prison.
Lui Luen-yung was one of many who took advantage when a security van unwittingly spilled its load all over Gloucester Road on Christmas Eve, but is the first to be sent to jail.
He pleaded guilty to pocketing HKD160,000.
Of the HKD52 million that was left on the road in huge bundles, around HKD15 million was stolen.
HKD7.92 million has so far been returned by 46 people following a police appeal, but another HKD7 million is still missing.
According to RTHK, Magistrate Li Kwok-wai told Hong Kong’s Eastern Court today that a serious message about opportunist crimes must be sent out, calling it ruthless that so many Hongkongers saw fit to steal in broad daylight.
Yesterday, the first person taken to court over the incident was spared jail.
The man, a 68-year-old cleaner, had taken HKD8,000, returned HKD2,000, but spent HKD6,000 on a mobile phone.
Police say they are honing in on at least 10 other people who stole money that day.
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