Hong Kong judges deny would-be robbers’ request to appeal against their nearly decade-long sentences

Two Court of Appeal judges on Wednesday refused to grant permission to seven men convicted of trying to rob the owners of a currency exchange shop to further challenge their prison sentences of more than nine years.

Court of Appeal vice-president Mr Justice Michael Lunn said that the sentences the High Cout trial judge handed the men – Leung Pui, Wong Wai-keung, Cheung Hiu-wai, Ho Bin, Lo Siu-wah, Chau Cheung-lun and Shing Cheung – were within the range of sentences available for this most serious crime.

The seven men were seeking leave to appeal against the sentences, which range from eight years and four months to nine years and four months. They had each earlier pleaded guilty to one count each of attempted robbery.

The court heard previously that on September 13, store owners Chan Kam-ping, 51, and Lau Yuk-fan, 53, disembarked from a bus at the Chi Kiang Street bus stop in To Kwa Wan and set off walking toward their home. Some of the defendants then tailed the couple.

Shing walked up to Chan and grabbed his legs from behind, bringing him to the ground, where he attempted to snatch Chan’s rucksack, which contained about HK$340,000.

Ho took out a knife, knocking Lau down and attempting to snatch her purse. At that point the police officers who had been observing the fracas intervened. All of the seven men were arrested.