Hong Kong police have arrested a suspected triad member and his girlfriend’s 10-year-old son over daubing a Tseung Kwan O flat with red paint in an apparent move to demand a HK$800,000 (US$102,300) debt repayment.
A source familiar with the case on Thursday said investigations indicated the 45-year-old man picked up the Primary Five boy after school on Monday and allegedly took him to the On Ning Garden flat on Sheung Ning Road to carry out the act.
“The boy was ordered to use a mobile phone to take a video when the man poured red paint at the security gate and wooden door of the flat,” the insider said.
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Hong Kong police arrest 1 of 2 suspects over HK$250,000 hold-up, find stolen car
He added it was a common tactic for those recruited to conduct such illegal acts to be required to take photos or videos and send them to the involved debt-collection syndicates as proof of the task being completed.
Police launched a manhunt for the pair after a security camera installed outside the premises captured the incident.
After gathering evidence, officers raided the man’s flat in the Kowloon East area on Wednesday. They only found his girlfriend, who had recently given birth to a baby.
The source said the woman was furious after learning her boyfriend allegedly took her son to carry out such an act.
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At about 9pm, the man took the boy to surrender at Tseung Kwan O police station.
Police arrested the pair on suspicion of criminal damage.
The boy was released unconditionally following inquiries and was picked up by his mother before midnight.
As of Thursday afternoon, the man was still being held for questioning.
The insider said the unemployed suspect was believed to have been paid to help a debt-collection syndicate splash paint at the targeted flat, putting pressure on its tenant for repayment.
Condemning the suspect for involving the boy in such a debt collection act, he said it was “unacceptable” and “ridiculous”, adding that police were studying the case to determine whether a care and protection order would be sought in court to get custodial authority for the boy.
The Tseung Kwan O flat targeted in the vandalism attack is occupied by a 70-year-old man.
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Another source said the investigation showed the elderly man received a phone call the day before the attack demanding his son settle gambling debts amounting to HK$800,000.
The retiree claimed he had no contact with his son for about 20 years so he ignored the call and did not report it to police.
“Police urge residents to promptly report to the authorities if they observe suspicious individuals entering or leaving residential buildings,” the force said on Thursday. “Security guards in the buildings should also remain vigilant.”
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Under the Crimes Ordinance, criminal damage is punishable by up to 10 years in jail.
In the first 10 months of 2023, police handled 4,373 reports of criminal damage, a 1.7 per cent rise from 4,301 cases logged in the same period in 2022.
According to the Juvenile Offenders Ordinance, a child is defined as anyone aged under 14. A young person is aged between 14 and 15, while anyone at the age of 16 or above is no longer considered a juvenile offender and will be tried in court like an adult.
Under the ordinance, no person below the age of 10 can be found guilty of a criminal offence. This is known as the age of criminal responsibility.