Singaporean man, 73, charged after allegedly robbing Hong Kong bank with toy gun

SINGAPORE — A 73-year-old Singaporean man was charged in Hong Kong on Saturday (April 16) for allegedly robbing a bank in Kowloon's Mong Kok district, escaping with HK$14,000 (S$2,400) in cash.

According to Hong Kong police, the suspect had used a toy gun in the robbery, which took place at Nathan Road on Thursday.  

He was arrested seven hours after the incident, police said in a Facebook post.

News outlet The Standard identified the bank as a China Construction Bank branch.

It quoted West Kowloon crime unit superintendent Alan Chung as saying that the man handed a note to a female bank teller that said he was carrying out a robbery, before threatening her with the gun.

He then gave her a black bag and told her to put the money inside, said the report. Mr Chung added that the bank employee tried to give chase after the suspect walked out but he ran across the street and boarded a bus.

Mr Chung was reported saying that the police set up roadblocks to look for the suspect in buses and at bus stations.

Hong Kong police said they later found some of the cash and the clothes worn by the suspect at his home.

The man has allegedly been overstaying in the city for about 10 years. Police said he is linked to another robbery at a pharmacy in Mong Kok in July 2020. A lighter was said to have been used in that incident.

He is due to appear in court on April 21. CNA