24th May 2023 – (Hong Kong) Last December, the police arrested seven individuals, aged between 16 and 20, involved in a criminal gang that used underage prostitutes to commit robberies. The group included a number of teenage girls who worked as prostitutes, as well as hotel security guards. On Monday of this week (22nd May), the police arrested a 19-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man in a Mong Kok hotel on charges of “conspiracy to commit robbery” and “obstructing justice.” The 19-year-old woman is believed to be the mastermind behind the gang and had been on the run for five months. The 23-year-old man is a friend of the woman.
In addition, the police arrested three men aged between 16 and 47 in Tsim Sha Tsui and Wong Tai Sin in January and February on charges of “conspiracy to commit robbery.” In total, eight men and four women, aged between 16 and 47, have been arrested in connection with the case.
The 19-year-old woman has been charged with “conspiracy to commit robbery” and “trafficking in dangerous drugs,” while the 23-year-old man has been charged with “obstructing justice” and “trafficking in dangerous drugs.” The case will be heard in the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning (25th May).
Of the individuals previously arrested, 3 men and 2 women have been charged with a total of two counts of “conspiracy to commit robbery.” The remaining 4 men and 1 woman have been released on bail and are required to report to the police in mid-June. One of the suspects, a 20-year-old man surnamed Yip, fell from his apartment in Chai Wan during a police raid last December and sustained fatal injuries.
