Police officer fined by court for taking money left behind at ATM

If anyone ever needed proof that the term “finders keepers, losers weepers” was a load of bull, take the example of this off-duty cop who was fined for taking money left behind at an ATM and keeping it for himself.

Lau Yuen-ming, 38, was found guilty one count of theft during his appearance at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

According to Ming Pao, the court heard testimony from the victim, surnamed Chan, who said she wanted to withdraw HK$8,000 (about US$1,000) from an HSBC ATM on Fuk Lo Tsuen Road in Kowloon City, but left and forgot to take the money with her.

CCTV footage from the day shows Lau withdrawing cash from the ATM next to Chan, walking away, and then turning around again after appearing to hear a beeping noise emitting from the ATM that Chan had just used. He is then seen taking the money from the ATM and leaving the scene.

Lau told the court that he also withdrew HK$8,000 and when he heard the ATM beeping, he thought the money belonged to him but grew suspicious when he found another stash of bills of the same amount in his wallet.

The court heard that Lau also called the bank’s hotline and, instead of returning the money to Chan, revealed to bank staff that he was a cop and didn’t want to trouble police with extra work if the money turned out to be his.

Bank records later confirmed he only made one withdrawal of HK$8,000 that day.

Lau was arrested in February, and insisted throughout the trial that he had not been dishonest when keeping the money as he had called the bank.

But Deputy Magistrate Arthur Lam Hei-wei wasn’t buying the excuse, calling it “far-fetched” and “extremely unreasonable.”

Lam, who repeatedly called attention to the fact that Lau was a police officer, pointed out that only about 12 seconds elapsed between Lau withdrawing his cash and him taking Chan’s money, and that it was highly unlikely that Lau forgot which ATM he used in such a short amount of time.

The magistrate decided to fine Lau HK$15,000 (US$1,900), and also ordered him to return the HK$8,000 to Chan.

The court heard that Lau had also been suspended during the trial, and that his monthly salary was reduced by 5 percent to HK$30,000 (US$3,800) during the suspension period.