Two Hongkongers found guilty of murder and blackmail
Quick Look
- Two men in Hong Kong have been convicted of murdering a man over a gambling debt and then attempting to extort HK$3.6 million from his wife for his release, despite him being deceased.
- The victim's body was found buried near Ping Yeung Village.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Two men in Hong Kong were found guilty of murdering a man after a financial dispute and then attempting to blackmail his wife for a ransom. The victim operated a gambling website and owed one of the defendants HK$2 million.
Two Hongkongers have been found guilty of murdering a man after a financial dispute and then blackmailing his wife for a HK$3.6 million (US$459,331) ransom for his “release” even though he was already dead.
A High Court jury on Tuesday also found that the defendants – Chan Wah-hing, 67, and Chan Yiu-lung, 33 – disposed of the victim’s body in grass near Ping Yeung Village before sealing the site with cement in September 2022.
The village is in Ta Kwu Ling in the city’s North district, where both defendants lived.
Prosecutors said at the start of the trial that the victim operated a gambling website, from which Chan Wah-hing had won about HK$2 million. The first defendant had been pursuing the winnings and enlisted the second defendant’s help.
On September 5, 2022, the first defendant lured the victim to a meeting at a village temple under the pretence of discussing business, with the second defendant accompanying him.
When the victim attempted to leave, the first defendant attacked him, binding his eyes, face and mouth with tape. As the victim struggled to breathe, the second defendant stabbed him twice in the chest.
Open Questions
- What was the exact nature of the financial dispute beyond the gambling winnings?
- Were there any accomplices involved in the murder or body disposal?
- What led to the discovery of the victim's body?
- What are the expected sentences for the convicted individuals?
