Bail refused for suspect after 18 guns seized in Sha Tin
A man has been remanded in custody after he was charged with possession of 18 handguns, over 100 rounds of ammunition and over 100 firearms components.
Joseph Ho Mang-keung, 67, was denied bail after he appeared yesterday at Sha Tin Court. Ho was charged with possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence.
It is alleged he had 18 pistols, 118 bullets, 21 magazines, a stun gun and 117 unspecified firearms parts. Ho is expected to appear in court again in July.
Superintendent Cheung Tingfung of the police force’s organised crime and triad bureau earlier said a firearms-related haul was seized in Sha Tin two days ago. The weapons found also included 11 knives and four daggers.
“A preliminary examination by the force’s forensic firearms examination division ballistics revealed the seized handguns and ammunition are genuine,” he said.
Cheung said officers had arrested the man alleged to be the owner of the weapons, who he did not identify, in the same area.
He added officers would assess the firearms’ performance and capabilities.
The force said the man arrested had a long association with the firearms industry and related activities.
Cheung added the man had run various companies, including a firearms and ammunition trading firm, a film prop business and another offering military accessories.
The suspect was also in charge of a shooting club at one point, he said.
“Between 1980 and 2008, the man held multiple licences for firearms dealing, shooting range management, and personal possession of firearms,” Cheung said.
But he added all the licences had ceased to be valid in 2008.
“We don’t rule out the possibility that someone might have illegally acquired this batch of firearms and ammunition from overseas,” Cheung said. “This is one of the directions of our investigation.”
Police said one of the handguns seized had lettering in German on it and the ammunition recovered was of different calibres.
Cheung said there was at present no evidence to suggest the man detained was connected to any previous rioting, antigovernment protests or violent incidents.
“We tend to believe that this arrested person is just a firearms fanatic,” he added.
Possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence is punishable by up to 14 years in jail and a HK$100,000 fine.
Police also arrested the man on suspicion of possession of offensive weapons and false documents.
Cheung said an investigation into the origins of the seized weapons continued and that further arrests were possible.
We tend to believe that this arrested person is just a firearms fanatic SUPERINTENDENT CHEUNG TING-FUNG