Chinese Soldier Fined for Stealing A $4.50 Key Chain At Hong Kong Disneyland

[soccercruiser87]

Sun Mar 19, 2:27 AM

HONG KONG - A Chinese soldier stationed in Hong Kong has been fined for stealing a Mickey Mouse key ring from Hong Kong Disneyland, a court document showed.

Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Court charged Zhang Qinggang, 27, with theft and ordered him to pay HK$1,000 ($129) for pocketing the HK$35 ($4.50) key ring from a shop at the theme park in January, the document issued Friday showed.

Zhang, a Hong Kong-based member of the People's Liberation Army, was shopping at the theme park with his wife when a security guard spotted him slipping the key ring into a carrier bag, the Ming Pao Daily reported Saturday.

The soldier pleaded guilty to the charge, the paper said.

The theft was an individual case and the Chinese army has always abided by the law since stationing in the city eight years ago, the paper quoted a PLA Hong Kong garrison spokesman as saying.

PLA soldiers were deployed to Hong Kong in 1997 after the former British colony was returned to China.

source: Soldier Fined for Shoplifting at Disney

Now why couldnt he just pay the $4.50 (HK$35)...

 

[Deb in IA]

Now why couldnt he just pay the $4.50 (HK$35)...

Probably for the same reason that shoplifting fines here in this country are up to $1500.00.

 

[dcentity2000]

Well, it certainly sends out a message!

Truth be told, I'm not sure how I feel about this but the fundamental thing is that if he didn't want to be fined, he shouldn't have nicked it.



Rich::

 

[disykat]

Did I read something wrong?

Shoplifting is a crime. I think he got off easy. If I read it right, he stole something worth $4.50 and had to pay a fine of $129 dollars. Do you seriously think shoplifters shouldn't be punished?

Gee, I think lots of people would take up shoplifting if it was simply a matter of paying if you got caught. One way you pay like normal. The other way you either pay like normal or get it free. No risks whatsoever.