Former nursing student jailed for stealing from hospital patients and colleagues

A former nursing student at a leading private hospital in Hong Kong has been jailed for two years and four months for stealing cash, credit cards and a phone from patients and colleagues, causing losses of at least HK$59,000 (US$7,517).

Leung Ho-fung, 29, was sentenced at the District Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to 11 counts of theft.

He admitted stealing an iPhone, HK$6,500 (US$828) in cash and nine credit cards from four patients and four colleagues at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital in Happy Valley between September 19 and October 23, 2024.

He also used some of the stolen cards to make purchases worth HK$52,875 at an Apple store on three occasions.

In mitigation, Leung told Deputy District Judge Derek Lai Kim-wah that he had been heavily in debt and needed money to get by when he committed the offences.

The court heard that he had declared bankruptcy after accumulating at least HK$300,000 in debt.

According to court documents, Leung was undertaking a nursing placement at the hospital and had been assigned to a ward on the 20th floor.

Between September and October, five patients reported losing personal belongings during their hospital stays.

Leung was arrested after police linked him to the offences during their investigation. Upon search, five of the stolen credit cards were found in his pocket.

During a police interview, he admitted stealing the items from patients’ bedside cabinets and his colleagues’ lockers in a changing room.

Defence lawyer Joe Chan Wai-yin told the court that Leung’s financial difficulties were partly the result of poor money management. He had also previously fallen victim to a scam and suffered a five-figure loss, Chan said.

“Now he knows that he should not have done it under any circumstances. He feels stupid,” Chan said.

Judge Lai said Leung had abused his position in the ward and stolen a number of items over a period of just five weeks.

With help from his relatives, Leung had paid compensation of more than HK$59,000 for the stolen items.