Fugitive rapist who fled UK appears at Hong Kong court after global manhunt ends in his capture
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 26 September, 2015, 10:21am
UPDATED : Saturday, 26 September, 2015, 1:20pm
Danny Lee
[email protected]
Joseph Tsang in a picture taken from his Facebook account. Photo: SCMP Pictures.
A Hongkonger who fled Britain to avoid probable jail time for a host of sexual offences appeared in the Eastern Court on Saturday morning after he was apprehended in Hong Kong on Friday night in a globally-coordinated raid.
The magistrate adjourned the case to November 23 and refused to grant the man, Joseph Tsang Kit-yee, bail.
Tsang, who was convicted of several offences in absentia in the UK, was the subject of a global manhunt that narrowed down his whereabouts after an international arrest warrant was issued under his name.
"Hong Kong police will continue to take strong enforcement action against overseas fugitives fleeing to Hong Kong,” said a spokeswoman for the Hong Kong police.
A former competitive ice skater, Tsang was described by police as a "high-risk" sex offender because he used his love for the sport to groom young female victims over a prolonged period of time.
Britain has requested to both the Hong Kong police and the global crime agency Interpol that the man, a dual national of Britain and Hong Kong, be extradited.
The former ice skater reportedly used his interest in the sport to groom young victims. Photo: SCMP Pictures
"Upon (receiving) a formal extradition request from the British police, Hong Kong Police last night arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with two cases of sexual offences in United Kingdom,” said the spokeswoman.
Deportation can take between eight weeks and two years, according to Britain’s Thames Valley police.
Tsang's lawyer said his client would challenge the extradition order.
Acting chief inspector John Turner, the deputy local police chief for Oxford in southeast England, said: “We would like to thank the public and media for their assistance during our wanted investigation.”
He also thanked partner agencies including the Hong Kong Crown Prosecution Service, Interpol and UK Immigration.
Interpol could not be reached for comment.
Tsang, who was last seen around August 16, broke free of his electronic tag and disappeared on the eve of his second court appearance in the UK.
Tsang was convicted in absentia of rape and other charges in the UK. Photo: SCMP Pictures
He was found guilty in absentia of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault by penetration, and was facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence after his first trial ended in a conviction months’ earlier.
Tsang was found guilty of taking indecent images of children, inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, and engaging in sexual activity with a minor.
He was not initially considered a flight risk as the judge at the first trial ordered him to surrender his British passport, pay a bond, wear an electronic tag, observe a curfew and attend regular court hearings.
Tsang conformed to all the mandates.
After he disappeared, authorities seized his British passport.
Thames Valley police suspected he had fled to Hong Kong using his second passport or using a fake ID.
Just days before his second trial was due to take place, Tsang is known to have tried to sell an iPhone 6+ for around HK$6,000 ($US775) – enough for a one-way flight from England to Hong Kong.
Tsang has family connections in both London and Hong Kong and is believed to have travelled frequently between the two.
His mother and sister live in the Asian city.
His last known visit to Hong Kong was in January 2013, as his Facebook posts attest.
