Alleged triad gangster arrested upon return to Hong Kong after years on the run
Alleged Hong Kong gangster “Shanghai Boy” Kwok Wing-hung was arrested on Sunday immediately upon returning to the city after two years on the run.
Kwok, in his 60s, arrived on a flight from Bangkok and was detained by police officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, which had been expecting him, a force insider said. It is believed the flight originated in Dubai.
He was intercepted at the immigration counter after being first tested for the coronavirus and arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to wound, criminal damage and criminal libel, according to the insider.
Kwok has been wanted by authorities after he failed to report to police in April, 2018 following his arrest the previous year for allegedly laundering more than HK$100 million (S$17.3 million) between 2007 and 2012.
This was not the first time Kwok has been apprehended by authorities.
He was arrested for criminal intimidation, conspiracy to wound with intent and conspiracy to blackmail in July 2016 after flying into the city via a flight from Phuket, Thailand.
In August 2012, Kwok and two rural leaders were among 130 people arrested in a crackdown against two triad gangs suspected of laundering HK$300 million in ill-gotten gains.
Kwok was said to have been the most powerful leader of the Wo Shing Wo triad society from 1998 to 2000.
He became a figure of public interest in March, 2012 when he was seen attending a private banquet with campaign officers for Leung Chun-ying, who was running as a candidate in the chief executive election, a race he won.
This article was first published in South China Morning Post.
