A Hong Kong police constable has been jailed for 16 months for extorting HK$60,000 (US$7,675) from a 19-year-old rape suspect. Officer Ng Wai-fung acted after prosecutors decided not to charge the suspect in a case involving a 16-year-old girl. The court condemned him for taking the law into his own hands.
The District Court in Hong Kong on Tuesday sentenced Constable Ng Wai-fung to 16 months in jail for misconduct in public office. Ng was investigating a rape complaint from a 16-year-old girl between January and April 2024 when he believed prosecutors had wrongly released the 19-year-old suspect, prompting him to demand money from the suspect himself.
Defence lawyers stated that Ng, who pleaded guilty last month, was frustrated by the Department of Justice's decision not to prosecute and felt compelled to pursue the matter to help the girl. On April 26, 2024, Ng texted the suspect, falsely claiming the girl demanded HK$60,000 to drop the case. He continued pressing for payment even after the suspect and his father went to a police station on April 28 to file a complaint.
The constable was arrested the following morning and subsequently suspended. The court condemned Ng for taking the law into his own hands, emphasizing that such actions undermine the rule of law. The case highlights frustrations among law enforcement in sensitive investigations but underscores the need for officials to follow legal procedures.
According to the South China Morning Post, the incident occurred in Hong Kong and involves police disciplinary issues.
