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S'porean man, 75, admits to robbing Hong Kong bank with damaged air gun to pay off debts
He also overstayed in Hong Kong for over 10 years.
March 11, 2025, 11:52 AM
When an unemployed Singaporean man in Hong Kong depleted his savings, he attempted to rob a health and beauty store in July 2020.
He did so by threatening the cashier that he would burn them with petrol if they did not hand over the money.
However, he fled the scene after the cashier began cursing him and demanding him to leave, reported Sing Tao Daily.
Around two years later, the man, surnamed Liang (transliteration from Chinese), robbed a China Construction Bank branch in Yau Ma Tei with a damaged air gun in April 2022.
Although he managed to flee the scene with HK$14,000 (S$2,398) worth of cash, he was arrested later that day by Hong Kong police.
On Mar. 10, 2025, Liang, now 75, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery and one count of robbery at a Hong Kong court, according to RTHK.
Overstayed in Hong Kong for over 10 years
During court proceedings, Liang's counsel said he came to Hong Kong in the 2000s and had overstayed for over a decade, reported Sing Tao Daily.
As Liang could not work or apply for financial assistance, he had been living on his savings, which amounted to over HK$100,000 (S$17,143).
Threatened Mannings cashier with lighter & 'petrol'
After Liang spent all his savings and could no longer afford rent, he decided to rob a Mannings store in the Prince Edward area at around 8pm on Jul. 1, 2020.
Upon arriving at the store, he handed the cashier a paper slip which read, "Robbery! If you don't want to die, hand me the money. Be quick, or I will burn you to death with petrol".
Liang also threatened the cashier with a lighter and a bottle of transparent liquid.
The liquid was, in reality, water.
When his tactics proved futile, Liang fled the scene.
Threatened bank employee with damaged air gun
Despite his failed attempt in July 2020, Liang decided to try his luck again approximately two years later by robbing a China Construction Bank branch in Yau Ma Tei on Apr. 14, 2022, reported Sing Tao Daily.
At around 3:30pm, Liang handed a slip of paper to a counter staff at the bank.
The slip read, "Robbery! We have guns. Put the money in this bag quickly. If you don't comply, we will open fire."
He also pointed a damaged air gun at the staff.
In response, the counter staff began taking out marked notes from a special device, which automatically triggered an alarm notifying the branch manager.
After the branch manager alerted the police, the counter staff began counting the notes so that she could hold back Liang longer.
Liang then asked her to stop counting and threatened to kill her if she did not comply.
The counter staff handed him HK$14,000 (S$2,398) worth of cash, and Liang fled the scene.
Committed offences due to debt
After Hong Kong police arrested him at his residence, Liang admitted that he committed his offences because he was in debt, reported Sing Tao Daily.
With the cash he robbed from the bank, he used HK$7,500 (S$1,285.90) to pay off his overdue rent.
During a subsequent police interview, Liang also admitted that he wanted to rob the Mannings store in 2020 because he had an overdue rent payment of HK$12,000 (S$2,057.44).
To be sentenced on Mar. 11
During court proceedings, Liang's counsel asked for a lighter sentence, citing that Liang committed his offences out of "stupidity", reported Sing Tao Daily.
His counsel also stated that Liang suffered from poor health and mobility issues, in addition to heart problems and a hernia.
The court will deliver Liang's sentence on Mar. 11 morning.
Top images via Channel C HK/YouTube
