FEHD lottery dispute sparks theft probe after disappearance
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A police investigation is under way after a group purchase of a record-breaking Mark Six draw by Food and Environmental Hygiene Department staff allegedly turned into a dispute over prize money. Reports say the staff member who bought the ticket collected more than HK$30 million from a half-share first prize, refused an equal split and then went missing from work.
Key Points
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Mark Six “50th Anniversary Snowball Draw (Phase Two)” was drawn on Saturday, September 5, with a HK$185 million snowball and a record first-prize pool of HK$228 million
- The draw attracted about HK$365 million in total bets, and each of the 3.5 first-prize winning units paid HK$63.37 million
- Reports differ on the syndicate size: HK01 and Bastille Post said 15 FEHD staff joined the pool, while Sing Tao reported eight staff bought the ticket together.
- The ticket buyer was identified in reports as a 36-year-old surnamed Ling, a health inspector in the FEHD market revitalisation team based in Wong Chuk Hang.
- According to Sing Tao, he allegedly sought HK$10 million for himself on the basis that he handled the betting arrangement, with the remainder to be split among colleagues, who rejected the proposal
- HK01 reported colleagues negotiated with him on Wednesday, September 9, but said he refused to divide the winnings equally, prompting fears he would keep the entire prize and disappear
- Police were called after colleagues became concerned; HK01 said the case was classified as theft and assigned to Aberdeen district officers, while FEHD said it would cooperate with the investigation.
- Sing Tao said the inspector took leave after collecting the prize and had been absent for five days by Friday, September 11, deepening colleagues’ concern that he might flee with the money
Why It Matters
The case has quickly moved beyond an internal workplace dispute because it now involves a large public-sector lottery syndicate and an alleged theft of prize money. It also underlines the legal and practical risks of informal group betting arrangements, an issue both reports linked to an earlier 2007 case in which a delegated ticket buyer kept the winnings.