A Hong Kong judge said he was sending a message this morning when he handed down a steep 21-month jail term for an officer found guilty of pilfering up to HK$1,300 ($166) from a police station locker.
Lau Chi-wai, 27, memorized the locker combination on one of the lockers in Yau Ma Tei police station, and stole money on four separate occasions over a one-month period during June last year, Apple Daily reports. He was exposed after a camcorder was placed inside the locker.
Mingpao reported that the officer was admitted to the police force before the theft, and that his training period coincided with the city’s Occupy movement in 2014. He finished his police training in 2015.
Lau’s lawyer said the defendant was under a lot of pressure at work and was also dealing with the stress of planning his wedding. The lawyer said Lau knew he made a mistake and has apologized to his family, the victim, and the police.
The defense argued that a mental and psychiatric report said Lau had an adjustment disorder, was not under any financial difficulties, his chances of committing another offense was low, and that he is eager to get out of prison as soon as possible and return to the community.
After listening to the defense, the judge said the case was more serious as the defendant holds a position of trust as a police officer.
The judge acknowledged that although not a lot of money was stolen in this case, the officer disgraced the police force and it was important to send a message to the public that the same rules apply to police officers as they do to everyone else.
Burglary in Hong Kong can carry up to 30 months in jail.
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