Two Charged in Tsim Sha Tsui Bar Death Case
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 28-year-old male bar employee and a 44-year-old female colleague have been jointly charged with one count of preventing the lawful burial of a body, while each also faces one count of operating a vice establishment for drugs and one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs. The case was mentioned at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on the morning of 26 September. Police said the 49-year-old deceased man, surnamed Lai, was reported unconscious outside 1 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, at 1.38am on 24 September and was certified dead at the scene. Investigators believe he had collapsed inside the bar before being moved outside by the two employees.
Key Points
- Police said the 28-year-old male employee, surnamed Ng, called officers at 1.38am on 24 September, reporting that Lai had collapsed outside 1 Hanoi Road.
- Officers found the 49-year-old male colleague, surnamed Lai, dead at the scene after emergency personnel attended the report in Tsim Sha Tsui.
- Investigators believe Lai collapsed inside an upstairs bar at 25-31 Carnarvon Road before two co-workers moved him to the street outside.
- Police later seized about 50 grams of suspected crack cocaine, suspected drug-taking tools and about HK$82,000 in cash inside the bar.
- The female employee, surnamed Cheung, had initially fled, was being sought on 24 September, and later turned herself in that afternoon before charges were laid.
Why It Matters
The case has moved quickly from an initial sudden-death report to multiple criminal charges, including alleged interference with the handling of a body and suspected drug offences linked to a nightlife venue. For Hong Kong readers, it also underlines how police investigations into unexplained deaths can expand into wider inquiries about suspected narcotics activity at the same premises.