appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Fiona Chow

A former procurement manager at Tse Sui Luen Jewellery in Hong Kong has pleaded guilty to stealing diamonds worth more than HK$11 million (US$1.4 million) from suppliers over six years by manipulating consignment records to fund his gambling habit.
The High Court heard on Monday that Mui Ka-fai, 63, obtained small diamonds from the jeweller’s regular suppliers and resold them once or twice a month for profit between 2017 and 2023. He pleaded guilty to three counts of theft.
An investigation found that he was involved in the theft of 2,557 carats of diamonds valued at HK$11.1 million.
Mui began working for Tse Sui Luen Jewellery in 1988 and was the only employee responsible for procuring small diamonds from different suppliers.
Under the agreement between the suppliers and the jeweller, diamonds supplied for inspection and examination had to be returned upon the suppliers’ request.
Each exchange was recorded on consignment forms, which Mui was responsible for entering into the company’s computer system.
After receiving the diamonds from suppliers, Mui was required to keep them in a safe to which he had sole access.
As Tse Sui Luen Jewellery had been a long-standing client of the three diamond suppliers involved in the case, and Mui had known some of them for more than a decade, they did not press for the return of the precious stones during their dealings with him.
In February 2024, Mui received a termination notice from the company for operational reasons. The following month, a purchasing supervisor met Mui to discuss his departure and future plans.

During the meeting, Mui confessed that he had been stealing diamonds from the company between 2017 and October 2023.
He admitted obtaining diamonds from suppliers under the false pretence that he was ordering them on behalf of the company.
He said he then resold the diamonds once or twice a month for up to US$50,000 and concealed the cash at home.
After converting the money into Hong Kong dollars, Mui put the cash into his Jockey Club betting account. His account records showed that he deposited about HK$300,000 each month.
When a supplier demanded the return of diamonds, he covered his tracks by buying the same quantity from other suppliers.
An internal investigation identified 31 questionable consignment records handled by Mui. The company reported the case to police.
At Monday’s hearing, Mui’s lawyer told Mr Justice Andrew Chan Hing-wai that the defendant’s “gambling addiction” led to the commission of the offence.
Chan noted that the defendant confessed to the supervisor after learning that his wrongdoing would soon be exposed following the termination of his employment.
The judge also said the charges Mui faced were merely “sampling charges”, as he had been committing theft over six years.
A sentencing hearing will be held on Friday.


Hong Kong’s IOMed poised to play key role in resolving Greater Bay Area disputes

Hong Kong model Abby Choi’s former relatives admit body disposal, deny murder

Hong Kong authorities won’t appeal court halt to 12,000-flat project on golf course

Actress Leila Tong sued over alleged contract breach and ‘manipulative conduct’

Hong Kong courts

Diamond buyer admits stealing HK$11m worth of gems to fund gambling addiction

Mui Ka-fai, 63, pleaded guilty at the High Court to stealing diamonds worth more than HK$11 million from suppliers over six years. Photo: Warton Li

Mui admitted obtaining diamonds from suppliers under false orders and reselling them to fund his gambling addiction. Photo: Getty Images

4 ex-warehouse workers jailed over plot to steal Chanel items worth HK$8.7 million

The four defendants have been jailed over two foiled plots to steal from the French fashion house’s storage spaces at the Goodman Interlink warehouse. Photo: Handout

The High Court sentenced the four defendants on Monday. Photo: Sun Yeung

Police probe theft of HK$8 million in luxury wines, other items from seaside home

A source has said the property was thoroughly ransacked, with items left scattered across the ground and first floors. Photo: Martin Chan

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Ex-Tse Sui Luen procurement manager resold diamonds from suppliers over six years, depositing up to HK$300,000 a month into a betting account


Ex-Tse Sui Luen procurement manager resold diamonds from suppliers over six years, depositing up to HK$300,000 a month into a betting account.


Crime in Hong Kong

Crime

Diamond buyer admits stealing HK$11m worth of gems to fund gambling addiction

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ex-Tse Sui Luen procurement manager resold diamonds from suppliers over six years, depositing up to HK$300,000 a month into a betting account

Ex-Tse Sui Luen procurement manager resold diamonds from suppliers over six years, depositing up to HK$300,000 a month into a betting account