A 44-year-old man has pleaded guilty to fraud and attempted fraud after trying to obtain money from his ex-girlfriend by telling her he was being held hostage by Triad members who planned to remove his kidneys unless he coughed up HK$20,000 (under US$2,560). You know, that old chestnut.
According to Apple Daily, this all began last year when Lee Chin-fai told his ex-girlfriend Wong Pui-lun that he got involved with a Triad gang and owed their boss a lot of money.
The newspaper reported that the pair started dating in 2002, but remained friends after their break up in 2014. That’s a decision she’s likely questioning at this point.
The “friendship” was tested when Lee told Wong he had accidentally broken a Triad boss’ cellphone and needed to pay for a replacement. Oh, and he also owed the Triad boss up to HK$40,000 (US$5,110).
Like any best friend would do, Wong offered to help in September, when she gave Lee a Samsung Note 8 — which was just released that month — and more than HK$10,000 (Under US$1,280), the newspaper reported.
Wong’s generosity was tested again a month later when a distressed Lee told her that he was being held hostage in an unknown location by eight Triad members threatening to take his kidney unless he paid up, adding that they had just tested his blood and were preparing to slice into him.
Lee said the Triad boss agreed to cut his debt to HK$20,000 but Lee conveniently didn’t have the money on hand so he once again called Wong to help him out.
Concerned for her friend’s well-being, Wong called the police instead, who arrived at Lee’s home to find him relaxing at home, kidneys intact, and most definitely not being hostage by eight Triad members as he claimed.
In mitigating statements at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court yesterday, the court heard that Lee had been unemployed for six months and that he needs to find another job in order repay Wong.
Sentencing will take place on Wednesday, Mar. 14.
Reader Interactions