A member of a kidnap gang that abducted a Hong Kong heiress for a multimillion-dollar ransom was yesterday jailed for 12 years after what the judge described as a “terrible ordeal” for the victim.
Queenie Rosita Law (羅君兒), granddaughter of late textiles tycoon Law Ting-pong (羅定邦), who founded the Bossini clothing chain, was abducted from her house in Hong Kong in April last year.
The 29-year-old was held in a mountain cave before family members paid a ransom of HK$28 million (US$3.61 million at today’s exchange rate). She was released three days later.
Zheng Xingwang (鄭興旺), 30, was the only suspect on trial in Hong Kong and pleaded guilty to one count of forcibly taking or detaining a person with an intent to procure a ransom.
Eight other men have appeared in court in China, where they have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting a verdict.
“The offense of kidnapping is a wicked and heinous crime,” judge Kevin Zervos said, as he sentenced Zheng at Hong Kong’s High Court.
Law and her boyfriend were asleep at her house in the quiet coastal area of Clearwater Bay when a gang of six Chinese men raided the house, tied them up and put adhesive tape over their mouths, the court heard.
They stole about HK$3 million worth of jewelry and cash from two safes, after forcing Law to give them the combinations.
They then tied her to one of the gang members and she was carried on foot to a hillside cave one-and-a-half hours away while her boyfriend was told to notify her father of the ransom demand.
Zheng provided logistical support and supplies, the court heard.
His lawyer had said that he played a different role from other members of the gang and was not involved in the robbery at Law’s home at the time of her abduction.
“I see no justification to distinguish his role from the others as he clearly came to Hong Kong with them with the sole purpose of carrying out this kidnapping,” Zervos said.
His thumb prints were found on one of the brown envelopes carrying the ransom money.
Throughout the ordeal, Law had feared for her life, even though she was not physically harmed, Zervos said.
“When she was found by two police officers, she was trembling with fear,” Zervos added. “Queenie went through a harrowing experience.”
Wearing a dark suit in court, Zheng, who is from Guizhou and married with a two year-old daughter, remained expressionless as he received his sentence through translators.
Zheng said in a letter to the court that he felt “remorseful” and apologized to Law’s family.
He was on trial in Hong Kong where he was caught; the other gang members were arrested in China.
Police in Hong Kong had embarked on a massive operation to hunt down the suspected kidnappers. Almost all of the ransom money has been recovered.
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