HONG KONG — The former husband of murdered Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung appeared in court again on Tuesday, this time for his alleged involvement in seven theft cases going back a decade.

Alex Kwong Kong-chi, 28, who was already remanded in custody without bail in connection with the socialite’s murder, showed up to District Court without any legal representation.

Mr Kwong had absconded after the theft case emerged in 2015 but was arrested last week by police in connection with Ms Choi’s death.

Ms Choi’s ex-husband was charged with seven counts of theft, involving the alleged stealing of 39 necklaces, 32 bracelets, 13 gold bars, 102 gold grains, six pendants and 10 taels of gold across seven separate incidents between May 2013 and January 2015.

The stolen items were believed to have belonged to seven individuals, the court heard. The incidents occurred at multiple locations, including Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei and the Harbour Plaza Metropolis hotel in Hung Hom.

The prosecution applied to adjourn the case, which was identified as rearrested on warrant, for 10 weeks to re-examine the evidence and did not rule out new charges.

Chief District Judge Justin Ko King-sau told Mr Kwong the court had confiscated his bail money in November 2015 after he absconded and failed to appear, with a warrant issued by police afterwards.

The judge asked the defendant if he had any bail applications or other supplements, to which he replied no.

The judge ordered Mr Kwong to be remanded in custody pending a trial on May 9.

Ms Choi’s ex-husband, who is jobless, was one of four of the slain socialite’s former family members arrested by police last week in connection with her murder.

They were remanded in custody on Monday without bail after appearing before court on related charges.

Two of the three defendants are Mr Kwong’s father Kwong Kau, 65, and 31-year-old brother Anthony Kwong Kong-kit. Both were charged with the model’s murder on February 21.

Mr Kwong’s 63-year-old mother, Jenny Li Sui-heung, faces a charge of perverting the course of justice for allegedly destroying evidence during a police investigation. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST