A former information technology (IT) manager at Deloitte was remanded in custody in Hong Kong after stealing around 423 laptops from the company’s office over 17 months to fund his stock-trading addiction.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Ho Man-Kit, 40, pleaded guilty at Hong Kong’s District Court to stealing Lenovo computers worth approximately HK$1.2 million ( ₹1.46 crore) between September 2021 and February 2023.
The former employee was accused of stealing laptops belonging to professional services firm Deloitte and selling them to fund his personal stock market investments. Prosecutors told the court that the thefts took place while he was working in the company’s IT department.
Bank records showed that Ho received more than HK$458,000 (around ₹55 lakh) from the sale of the laptops. Investigators alleged that he used the proceeds for stock trading, which eventually resulted in significant financial losses.
The case came to light after an IT engineer discovered that 399 laptops were missing from Deloitte’s office at Cityplaza in Quarry Bay. The employee informed the administration, prompting a review of CCTV footage.
Ho confessed to his manager two days later and surrendered himself to police that same afternoon.
A detective constable later recovered 24 other Deloitte laptops from a recycler’s premises at Sin Tat Plaza in Mong Kok.
The recycler’s owner told investigators that Ho had claimed Deloitte had authorised him to sell the laptops, saying they were either outdated or had been purchased by mistake.
According to the SCMP, Ho was not required to enter a plea during the hearing. His defence lawyer told the court that he was remorseful and ashamed of his actions and had attempted suicide a day before surrendering to the authorities.
The court was also told that Ho had been facing significant personal and family pressures. His wife had been dealing with postnatal depression, while his father was undergoing treatment following surgery for lung cancer.
Meanwhile, in a similar incident that came to light earlier this year, a man stole six laptops from the office of Linking Spaces Technologies Pvt Ltd in HSR Layout Sector 1 on April 30.
According to the complaint, the unidentified suspect entered the office through an open door shortly after it opened at around 9.30 am. He picked up six laptops from the desks, put them in a bag and fled on a two-wheeler.
The theft was discovered by staff later, and a complaint was filed two days after the incident.
CCTV footage from the office and nearby areas captured the suspect, and police were trying to identify and apprehend him. A case was registered under Section 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Times of India reported.
Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity.
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With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture.
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She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes.
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Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.