Officers are investigating whether negligence was involved in the escape of the mainland man, who was re-arrested on Connaught Road Central several hours later
CLIFFORD.LO@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Saturday, 02 April, 2016, 10:00am
The man said he bashed the ATM out of frustration that he was unable to withdraw money. Photo: Bloomberg
A mainland tourist, who was arrested on suspicion of bashing an automated teller machine with a metal pole, escaped from Kwai Chung police station on Friday afternoon, prompting a manhunt across the city.
A city-wide search was launched and the man, 44, was re-arrested on Connaught Road Central in Central shortly before 7pm.
The man was accused of hitting the ATM at the Kwai Chung branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) in Wo Yi Hop Road at about 6am, according to police.
As a female security guard, 58, approached, the man abandoned the weapon and fled on foot. A report was then made to police.
“As police conducted inquiries with the security guard at the scene, the man returned and officers then arrested him in connection with the criminal damage case,” a source with knowledge of the investigation said.
The source said the man claimed he became emotional after he failed to withdraw any money from the ATM with his three bank cards.
The suspect was then brought to Kwai Chung police station in Kwai Chung Road, where he was being held for questioning.
The source said the mainlander escaped from the police station at lunchtime. it is understood he was not handcuffed and he ran out of the police station through the rear entrance.
He said officers were still investigating how he escaped and whether negligence was involved.
The man was still being detained on Friday night and had not been charged.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1932943/man-arrested-allegedly-bashing-hong-kong-cash-machine-found
