Police freeze HK$30 million in bank account of man who refused to share Mark Six prize

Hong Kong police have frozen HK$30 million (US$3.8 million) held in the bank account of a 36-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of theft after he allegedly refused to split a winning Mark Six jackpot with his colleagues.

The arrest was made on Friday after a 53-year-old man reported to police on Wednesday that he was one of 15 colleagues who had chipped in to buy the winning ticket for the draw last week, according to a source.

The group reportedly included some staff members of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD).

“The case is being investigated by the Western district crime support team. A 36-year-old man was arrested yesterday, and the relevant funds in his bank account have been frozen,” said Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming on Saturday.

“Regarding communication with the FEHD, the report was made by another person, so we do not see a direct connection to the department itself.”

The suspect bought the ticket and received the payout into his personal bank account, but refused to split the cash equally among his colleagues, according to the source.