Ex-Deloitte IT manager jailed for 22 months over HK$1.2 million laptop theft
A former Deloitte information technology manager has been jailed for 22 months for stealing 423 laptops worth HK$1.2 million (US$153,000) from the accounting firm’s Hong Kong office to fund his stock trading addiction. The District Court sentenced Ho Man-kit, 40, on Friday after he pleaded guilty earlier this month to a count of theft for misappropriating Lenovo computers and selling them to an…
A former Deloitte IT manager, Ho Man-kit, has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for stealing 423 laptops from the firm's Hong Kong office, valued at HK$1.2 million (approximately US$153,000). Ho pleaded guilty to the theft, which occurred between September 2021 and February 2023. Deputy Judge Minnie Wat Lai-man stated that Ho had abused his employer's trust over an extended period and could not compensate the company due to losing all the stolen funds via unsuccessful stock trading.
However, Wat decided on a lighter sentence, citing Ho's willingness to take responsibility, his mental health issues, and the limited impact on Deloitte's reputation. The theft was discovered when an IT engineer noticed a shortfall of 399 laptops at Deloitte's office on February 13, 2023. Subsequent surveillance footage revealed Ho attempting to sell a box of 15 laptops to a recycler, which was prevented.
Ho confessed to his supervisor two days later and turned himself in to the police. Bank records showed Ho had received over HK$458,000 from the illicit sales. The defendant claimed he had also received cash from the recycler. Despite the theft being punishable by up to 10 years in prison, the maximum sentence in this case was seven years due to the District Court jurisdiction.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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