A storage unit owner was arrested for stealing dry seafood worth HK$400,000 from his tenant who had not paid one-month’s rent, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man said during a regular press conference yesterday.
The 38-year-old local suspect surnamed Kou told the police that he’s jobless.
According to Chan, in August the victim and his two partners bought 32 boxes of dry seafood from Hong Kong and stored them in a storage unit owned by Kou in an industrial building.
On September 24, the victim discovered that the lock of the storage unit had been changed and he could not gain access to the unit, after which he or she was informed by Kou that since they had defaulted on paying their rent, their dry seafood was transferred to another storage unit, without a lock, next to the original unit.
Upon retrieving the 32 boxes of seafood from the unlocked storage unit, the victim found that six boxes were empty and reported the incident to the police. Chan said the victim claimed that the lost seafood was worth HK$400,000.
Under questioning, Kou denied stealing the goods, but based on a witness’s oral evidence and the fact that Kou admitted changing the lock and relocating the seafood, the Judiciary Police assume that he committed the crime, according to Chan.
Kou was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) on Monday, facing an aggravated theft charge, Chan said.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference.
– Photo: William Chan
