Hong Kong police officer pleads guilty to laundering HK$6 million as court warns of harsh sentence

A Hong Kong court warned on Monday it might impose a tough sentence on a police officer who pleaded guilty to laundering more than HK$6 million (US$766,962) through accounts associated with an illegal gambling website.

Deputy District Judge Daniel Tang Siu-hung convicted Kwong Ka-kit, 30, of six counts of money laundering over six payments ranging from more than HK$106,000 to HK$2 million between October 2019 and May 2021.

Tang asked the prosecution to submit precedent cases for the court to decide whether the defendant should get additional jail time, suggesting his duty as a constable was an aggravating factor.

“The court will consider whether the policeman had committed the crime during his duty, abused his power and undermined the public trust in police,” the judge said.

The prosecution told the court that Kwong made the transactions using the money he won from a gambling website, which he obviously knew was involved in illegal activities.

In mitigation, Kwong’s counsel said the defendant was passionate about his work and was a responsible policeman.

The lawyer said Kwong did not gamble during his working hours. He also stressed Kwong was only a normal person who had a gambling problem.

A summary of facts presented in court showed that the defendant made more than 1,100 transactions involving more than HK$6 million to five accounts in different banks between 2019 and 2021.

Kwong used these accounts for gambling and made withdrawals immediately after he had won.

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He was arrested in March 2023 but the defence said he had been suspended from service since May 2021 after the investigation into his offences was launched.

In Hong Kong, money laundering is punishable by a HK$5 million fine and up to 14 years in jail, which is capped at seven years at the District Court.

Judge Tang adjourned sentencing to April 10 while the court waited for reports about the defendant’s background and psychological state.