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Two men, aged 21 and 31, were respectively sentenced to a three-month order in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre and a 30-month imprisonment for blackmail and false imprisonment at District Court today (September 5) and August 21.
The Court heard that officers of Regional Anti-triad Unit of New Territories South arrested the two men, aged 21 and 31, in Tsuen Wan and Cheung Sha Wan respectively in December 2011. The duo were in connection with blackmailing and falsely imprisoning debtors from August to December 2011. Police seized about $150,000 cash believed to be crime proceeds in the operation and neutralised a loan shark syndicate.
The 31-year-old man was subsequently charged with three counts of conspiracy to blackmail and one count of conspiracy to false imprisonment while the 21-year-old man was charged with one count of blackmail and one count of false imprisonment. The duo was convicted after trial. The Court also ordered the seized crime proceeds to be returned to the victims.
Police reiterated that the Force is committed to combating loan-sharking and illegal debt-collecting activities and takes zero tolerance against any unlawful act.
Police Report No. 236
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:46
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