Four men were suspected of kidnapping and robbing a 60-year-old man. They suffered a flat tire while driving the victim. They called to demand a ransom and then released him.

A 60-year-old businessman, suspected of being involved in a business dispute, was pushed onto a van in Wan Chai. He was then threatened with a beef knife, beaten until bleeding, and his wallet and credit card were stolen, totaling over HK$250,000. One of the men even called his wife to demand a ransom of HK$1.2 million. Police subsequently arrested four men suspected of being involved in the case. They pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and robbery. The case opened in the High Court today (6th). Opening statements revealed that the van had a flat tire while the businessman was being abducted, and the defendants had to summon another vehicle to replace him. Furthermore, although one of the defendants called the victim’s wife to demand a ransom, he was released shortly thereafter.

Four defendants: Wu Keng-ho (36), Chong Tsz-fung (36), Choi Ka-po (34), and Au Yeung Chun-wan (39) were charged with one count of kidnapping. They were accused of, among other things, abducting or detaining Leung Kam-yau between July 2 and 3, 2020, in Hong Kong, against his will, by force or fraud, with the intention of exchanging the proceeds for a ransom or other benefit for his release.

Robbery of approximately HK$250,000

The first three defendants were charged with one count of robbery. They were accused of, among other things, robbing Leung Kam-yau of HK$104,452 and HK$147,470 in legal property in Hong Kong on July 2, 2020, along with Au Yeung Chun-wan and others, of four bank cards and a mobile phone belonging to Leung. The victim was pushed into a van in Wan Chai.

The prosecution’s case alleges that the victim had a business dispute with the first defendant and his brother. The first defendant demanded repayment, but to no avail. On July 2, 2020, the victim was pushed into a van outside the Lockhart Road Market in Wan Chai. The second defendant was driving, and the first defendant was in the passenger seat. The fourth defendant and another unknown person were also in the van.

The victim was assaulted and his wallet stolen.

The first defendant demanded repayment from the victim in the van. Someone then threatened and assaulted him with a beef stick, causing bleeding and damaging his glasses. The attackers also stole the victim’s wallet and two credit cards.

A van suffered a flat tire en route and had to change vehicles.

The van’s tire blew while driving to Hok Tsui, Shek O. The third defendant arrived in another car, and the man left unnoticed. Furthermore, while everyone was waiting for the third defendant, the first defendant called the victim’s wife and asked her to deposit $1.2 million into the first defendant’s bank account.

The victim was eventually allowed to leave.

The third defendant arrived in a car and picked up the group. When the car reached Tai Tam Road, the first defendant got out. The car then drove to Tai Kok Tsui, where the fourth defendant also left. After receiving instructions, the second and third defendants allowed the victim to leave. Furthermore, CCTV footage in the case captured the first and fourth defendants making withdrawals from the victim’s credit card.

The first defendant admitted to calling the victim’s wife

Four defendants were subsequently arrested. The first defendant admitted in a video interview that he had collected money from the victim and called the victim’s wife because of this, but he denied being at the scene when he was involved in the case. In addition, the second defendant had rented the van involved in the case. He also sent a message to a person named “Fei Bao” when he was involved in the case, saying: “Find a place for resettlement.”

The third defendant said that he only found out later that he had kidnapped an uncle.

After the arrest, the third defendant said: “It’s none of my business. Zhuang Zifeng asked me to help the driver, and I informed him later that Ah Hao and the others had kidnapped an uncle.” As for the fourth defendant, the prosecution pointed out that the police seized a water bottle from the van involved, and the fourth defendant’s fingerprints were detected on the water bottle.