Mainland man remanded over alleged theft of HK$2,000 Sun Wukong statue in Tsuen Wan

A 57-year-old mainland man has been remanded after appearing at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court over the alleged theft of a HK$2,000 bronze statue of Sun Wukong near the entrance to Lung Ma Temple in Tsuen Wan. Che Jianxin holds a Two-way Permit and is reported to be a monk.

The charge alleges that Che stole the statue on 24 August from a roadside location near the temple entrance at No. 8, Sheung Kok Shan, Lo Wai, Tsuen Wan. The statue was allegedly owned by Lung Ma Temple.

Che appeared in court on 26 August and was not required to enter a plea. The prosecution applied to adjourn the case to obtain his immigration records, and the case was adjourned until 23 September.

Che was remanded pending the next hearing. After a defence request, Magistrate Chan Wai-man allowed him to call a friend to say that he was temporarily unable to recite scriptures for him.