Abby Choi, a 28-year-old socialite and daughter-in-law of the founder of an international food group, was suspected of being killed by her ex-husband’s family. The police arrested another man on March 2, suspected of “assisting the ex-husband” in his attempt to escape.
Hong Kong Police Superintendent Chung Nga-lun told the media that the arrested man is 41 years old and works in the yacht rental industry. He is suspected of receiving hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars in remuneration for helping the deceased’s ex-husband, Alex Kwong, run away from Hong Kong to mainland China by boat.
Chung also believes that the entire case has been planned for a month, and the police would investigate the boat owner for evidence on March 4.
A Family of Suspected Criminals
Of the five people arrested thus far, many questions about the suspects’ backgrounds remain.Choi’s ex-husband Alex Kwong Kong-chi was wanted for theft, while the ex-father-in-law, Kwong Kou, was a former police sergeant accused of sexual assault in 2005.
Neither incident was brought to conclusion.
Kwong Kong-chi tricked four people into buying gold in 2015, involving HK$5 million (US$637,000). Kwong was later arrested and charged with seven counts of theft.
The case was heard in court by the Kwun Tong Magistrate. But Kwong never showed up at court or reported to the police station. He forfeited his bail bond and was wanted by the court.
Additionally, Kwong was taken to court by American Express for owing a debt of HK$100,000 (US$12,700) in 2015, while he was also sued for HK$1.576 million (US$198 million) in 2016.
Kwong Kou’s Sexual Assult Charge Went Cold
As for Choi’s ex-father-in-law, Kwong Kou, a former police sergeant, was arrested by the Regional Crime Squad for suspected sexual assault, resigned, and left the police force.It seems that the case has since been left unresolved, as there have been no records of further arrests or charges against Kwong Kau.
Senior commentator Ng Chi-sum questioned what the Mongkok Police Station was doing, as the sexual assault complaint happened in 2005.
In 2008 another officer was accused of a similar offense and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. But the 2005 case was unresolved, had been dropped by the victim or forgotten.
Ng said when Kwong was released from the sexual assault, the police should have explained whether the charge was dropped due to insufficient evidence. Did The Department of Justice find the evidence inadequate to consider it a crime, or did the victim refuse to testify at the time?
“Alternatively, did the police feel that sergeant Kwong had excellent relations with them, so he was let off? The police never clarified any of these questions,” said Ng.
Ng asked if the police should come clean to the public.
Ex-family Demanding
Choi still supported her ex-husband’s family after their divorce, including purchasing a luxurious apartment for over HK$70 million (US$9 million). The entire family of her ex-husband moved into the Kadoorie Hill mansion. The property was under the name of her former father-in-law, Kwong Kou, causing further complications.Choi had planned to sell the property and was looking for another place for her ex-husband’s family to live. An argument took place and later led to the fatal murder of the 28-year-old Choi, according to the police.
Columnist Fung Kin-hei argued that if Kwong Kou had been prosecuted or jailed for sexual assault, he might have been more reserved about committing a murder.
“If the Hong Kong police hunt down fraudsters as they do to the so-called ”national security offenders,“ Kwong Kong-chi would have been arrested when he returned from the mainland. Had the Hong Kong Police and Department of Justice upheld their duty, Abby Choi might not have died in vain,” said Fung.
