Charges dropped against man accused of trying to break into Li Ka-shing’s house

[VinnieV]

Charges dropped against man accused of trying to break into Li Ka-shing’s house

Mainlander walks free because of insufficient evidence over incident at tycoon's mansion

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 07 May, 2015, 5:09pm
UPDATED : Friday, 08 May, 2015, 2:33am

Thomas Chan [email protected]

Li Ka-shing's mansion in Deep Water Bay. Photo: Sam Tsang

An unemployed mainlander accused of trying to burgle the home of Asia's richest man, Li Ka-shing, walked free from court yesterday after prosecutors dropped the charges.

Prosecutors said they had insufficient evidence on which to try Meng Hongwei, 19, whom police intercepted while he was trying to climb over a fence surrounding Li's home in Deep Water Bay last month, Eastern Court heard.

Charges of attempted burglary and arriving in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining without the authority of the immigration director were withdrawn. He had yet to enter a plea.

The prosecutors told the court that Meng did have a valid two-way permit that allowed its holder to enter and exit the city, but did not explain why they were unable to pursue the attempted burglary case against him.

Earlier, the court heard that, on April 3, Meng tried to break into a building situated on an 11,800 sq ft site on Deep Water Bay Road, known to be the tycoon's residence.

It was understood that Meng had heard a voice in his head telling him that he was Li's grandson, so he went to the house. Once there, he told security guards he wanted to meet Li.

When they refused him entry, Meng remained near the mansion for about seven hours, walking around the perimeter before trying to climb the fence, at which point a police officer patrolling the area spotted and arrested him, the court heard. Meng later said he had entered the city on a two-way permit.

Yesterday, prosecutors told the court that, according to police checks of the Immigration Department's records, Meng came to Hong Kong early last month.

Meng threw away his two-way permit after arrival because he did not want to return to the mainland, the court heard.

The prosecution therefore withdrew the charge of landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining without the authority of the immigration director.

Meng's two-way permit had expired in the meantime, so police and immigration authorities would make arrangements after his release.

In 1993, a man broke into Li's house with a knife and was subdued by Li's staff. He was later jailed for 61/2 years for offences including attempted burglary. In 1999, a man who visited Hong Kong on a two-way permit sent a letter to Li's house, claiming he was a foster son of crime king "Big Spender" Cheung Tze-keung, and asked Li for money. He was jailed for one month.