Arson and murder suspect returned to Hong Kong
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A 33-year-old man wanted in connection with an arson and murder case in 1997 was returned to Hong Kong Police (HKP) from the Mainland this afternoon (December 19).

At a brief ceremony held at the Huanggang Boundary Control Office in Shenzhen, representatives from HKP including officers from the Liaison Bureau and the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) took custody of the suspect from Shenzhen Public Security Bureau (PSB).

The suspect was wanted for an arson and murder case at a karaoke on Prat Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui in the early morning on January 25, 1997. The karaoke was extensively damaged and 17 people were killed.

Officers of the OCTB took over investigation and successfully arrested many people in the same year. Four of the arrestees were subsequently charged with murder and three of them were sentenced to life imprisonment while one was convicted of manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment.

Thorough investigation by HKP led the identification of three other culprits and wanted them by offering a reward of $600,000 in total. The 33-year-old man, who was one of the three wanted persons, was eventually located by the Shenzhen PSB in Shenzhen in late November.

The suspect was returned to HKP this afternoon and is now being detained for further enquiries.

Investigations by OCTB are proceeding.

A Police spokesman said the handover of the suspect to Hong Kong indicated the exchange of intelligence and close co-operation between HKP and the law enforcement authorities in the Mainland in combating crimes.

Police Report No. 7
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Friday, December 19, 2008
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