Administrator convicted for 2 years on burglary
source: takungpao
translated by cici@AsianEU

A middle-aged burglar using his opportunity as an office administrator of a property in Central sneaking into a unit in the building last fall to ransack the place taking 6000 dollars. The administrator subsequently became remorseful so in the following month in an attempt to return 1200 dollars he once again sneaked into the residential, but he missed and was discovered by the head of household. The management company reported to the police after investigation. "Thief gaining a conscience" was convicted for burglary and sentenced to imprisonment for two years at the District Court yesterday.

The defendant Chan Wing-chuong (44 years old) admitted sneaking into a unit on 16th floor of 11 McDonald Road on September 21 last year stealing 6000 dollars. Yesterday in sentencing, Foreign judge said it is a serious crime for the defendant to make use of his position to sneak into a unit because it'll undermine resident's security. However, since the defendant later admitted crimes, and had intention to return the stolen item, it can be used as grounds for commutation of sentence.

The defense said though the defendant sneaked into the unit twice, but he had an obvious sense of guilt after stealing, because he could not rest within one month of the incident. The defense explained the defendant serving as a security guard earned only 8000 dollars while his younger brother owed the loan sharks heavily in debt, in addition to his two sons' increasing tuition fees, that he had no choice but to risk to commit the crime. As of sneaking into the unit in October, he was in an attempt to repay the money to reduce his own inner self-reproach.

On the morning of October 1st last year, the Mainland Chinese female tenant in the unit was still sleeping, but all of a sudden, she heard a noise outside the room so she went out to see. Unexpectedly, she saw the building security guard dressed in neat uniform standing in front of her, and before she could react, the security guard said, "Ms Wu, your back door isn't shut! I am sorry that I came in", right after he said the words, the security guard opened the door and walked out. At the same time, the female tenant remembered 6000 RMB was missing in her home a month ago, so she filed a complaint to the management company, and that was how the incident exposed.

Subsequently, Chan, Assistant Manager of the management company followed up with the defendant, and the defendant admitted stealing, but also gave 1220 dollars directly to Chan asking him to return the money back to the female tenant. After knowing the incident, Chan returned the money to the female tenant, and then reported to the police. Under caution, the defendant admitted stealing 6000 dollars, but denied having stolen a watch. The defendant also said that he was remorseful after stealing 6000 dollars and sneaking into the female tenant's home in September 21 last year, that he had decided to sneak back into the home to return part of the stolen money. As for the other portion of the money, the defendant said he had spent it.