2005-01-20 14:48 Police today (January 20) appeal to shop owners who recently faced extortion in Wong Tai Sin to come forward. The appeal was made following the arrest of a 30-year-old man yesterday (January 19) for blackmailing a shop in Tung Tau Estate, Wong Tai Sin. Police enquiries revealed that the 30-year-old man approached the shop and demanded the 46-year-old male shop owner to pay $1,000 for a tangerine tree which would be delivered to the shop at a later time. A report was then made to the Police and investigations were taken over by the District Anti-triad Squad of Wong Tai sin (DATS/WTS). After prompt investigation and intelligence collection, Police arrested the 30-year-old man in a residental unit in the estate at about 5pm on the same day. He was charged with one count of blackmail today and will appear in Kwun Tong Magistracies' Courts tomorrow (January 21). Police will continue to step up patrol and enforcement action during the festive period in a bid to prevent the occurrence of crime. Shop owners in Wong Tai Sin who had been victimized but did not report their case are urged to contact the investigating officers of the DATS/WTS at 2352 9458. |