Three construction workers have been charged with stealing about HK$90,000 worth of jewelery from a flat in the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.
The three defendants – Yu Yeung-chan, 32; Cheung Pok-hoi, 32; and Wong Wai-sing, 38 – appeared in the Fanling Magistrate’s Court on Monday, local media reported.
They were charged with one count of theft for stealing jewelery belonging to a woman identified as X from a flat in Wang Tai House on 5 March.
According to media reports, the stolen items included a gold pendant necklace, four gold rings, a silver diamond ring and a gold bracelet.
Acting Chief Magistrate Jason Wan accepted the prosecution’s request to adjourn the case to July 27, pending legal advice from the Department of Justice.
The defendants have not asked for bail and have been remanded in custody.
A theft conviction can result in up to 10 years in prison.
Police force said on March 6, three construction workers were arrested the day before after seven pieces of jewelry, worth about HK$90,000, were found in the trio.
The three workers were acting suspiciously while reinforcement work was being carried out at Wang Fuk Court, police said.
“Many people lost their homes and loved ones in the Wang Fuk Court fire. The three workers committed a crime when they entered the residence for work. What they did was despicable,” Brian Chung, an assistant Tai Po district commander, said in Cantonese.
Hong Kong’s government hired construction workers for reinforcement work at Wang Fuk Court after a fire engulfed seven of its eight residential buildings in November, killing 168 and displacing thousands of residents.
After the arrests, the police forces strong security controls in the Tai Po estate.
It was not until April that residents of Wang Fuk Court were allowed to return to their homes to search and collect personal belongings.
From the end of May, the police received 142 reports of lost property. Security chief Chris Tang said on May 30 that in about 30 percent of reports, residents could not describe the missing items in detail, making the investigation difficult.
Tang added that while the lost items had been found in 48 cases, authorities could not rule out theft in 16 cases.
