Filipino charged with stealing HK$500 from ATM machine

A Filipino man has been charged with stealing money that was left behind in an ATM machine in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island.

Mark R.B., a married local resident with children, pleaded guilty at the Eastern Magistrates’ Court on October 19 to one count of theft, hongkongnews.com.hk reported.

The theft happened on February 23 when the complainant, a local man, withdrew HK$500 (US$64) from an HSBC ATM machine on the first floor of the Park Lane Hong Kong hotel on Gloucester Road, but forgot to take the money before leaving.

He later returned to the ATM machine but found the money was gone.

Surveillance camera footage showed the defendant had taken the HK$500 and then used the same ATM machine with his own ATM card.

He later turned himself in and admitted to taking the money. The lawyer said he was remorseful and was ready to pay back the money. The report did not mention the court’s ruling.