Man Arrested Over Suspected Poisoned Cat Food in Shek Kip Mei
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 34-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Saturday at Shek Kip Mei Park after cat volunteers said they saw him tampering with food left for stray cats near the tennis courts. Police said officers found suspected rat poison and a 14-centimetre fruit knife on him, and the case is being investigated as suspected animal cruelty and possession of an offensive weapon.
Key Points
- Police received a report at 3:37am on October 24 about suspected poisoned bait being placed in cat food at an open area near the tennis courts in Shek Kip Mei Park.
- Officers intercepted a 34-year-old man surnamed Ho and allegedly found one packet of suspected rat poison and a fruit knife measuring about 14 centimetres including the handle.
- According to HK01, volunteers had monitored two feeding bowls within about 100 metres of the park after finding black muddy material and blue suspected rat poison in them since mid-August.
- HK01 reported that volunteers installed cameras, reviewed footage over several days, and saw a man in running gear repeatedly approaching the bowls late at night about two to three times a week.
- Footage cited by HK01 allegedly showed the man opening a packet and pouring its contents into a bowl at 2:44am on Sunday, October 18, before putting the item back into his running vest.
Why It Matters
The arrest moves a long-running concern among local cat volunteers from suspicion to a formal criminal investigation, with police now examining both the alleged poisoning attempt and the knife possession allegation. For park users and animal carers, the case also underlines how surveillance footage and community reporting can shape enforcement when repeated tampering is suspected.