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South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Family's death a wake-up call for better mental health support in Hong Kong
suspected murder-suicide involving a young family in Hong Kong must serve as a wake-up call for the city to redouble efforts to tackle mental health issues. While an investigation of the tragedy is still under way, facts already known about the case should focus attention on a recent spike in depression cases and the need for a better response. The 37-year-old father is believed to have used a knife to take the lives of his wife and their two sons, aged three and six. Police also believe he then jumped to his death from the hotel where they were staying. The motive appeared to be rooted in mental health problems The family had reportedly lived in the suite for months. They planned to emigrate to Britain but their departure had been delayed because one of the boys needed medical treatment. Police said the family was not linked to any past domestic violence cases. The father, a former customs inspector, had resigned for personal reasons in mid-June and been on leave since May. Though unemployed, he was not known to have financial issues. However, the man had posted on social media about his emotional problems and worries about not being able to care for his family. The Post learned that he suffered from depression and was being treated at a private clinic in Tuen Mun. His late wife and a brother were reportedly aware he was ill. The case underscores a rise in the number of local people who experience depression. A poll released in December found that over half of Hongkongers had such symptoms, the highest proportion in seven years. The survey also found more than 10 per cent of respondents reported feeling down, depressed or hopeless 'almost every day'.
Khaleej Times
01-08-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Man gets life sentence, Dh500,000 fine for smuggling 15kg of drugs from US, Europe
A 56-year-old Asian man has been sentenced to life in prison and fined Dh500,000 after being convicted of importing 15kg of illegal narcotics from the US and Europe in what authorities described as a highly organised international drug trafficking operation. The ruling, issued by the Dubai Court of First Instance, also included a deportation order to be executed following the completion of the prison term. In addition, the court imposed a two-year post-release ban on the defendant from engaging in any form of financial transfer or remittance to others. The case unfolded when a vigilant customs inspector at a major courier hub in Dubai noticed several suspicious parcels addressed to the defendant. The packages, which had originated from multiple locations in the United States and Europe, were unusually heavy and tightly sealed with industrial-grade plastic. According to official police records, the inspector raised an alert, prompting authorities to subject the parcels to forensic examination. Lab analysis revealed that the packages contained 15kg of narcotic substances concealed within layers of clothing and plastic wrapping. Authorities did not publicly disclose the exact type of drug but confirmed it fell under restricted Class A substances under UAE law. Following confirmation of the illegal drugs, Dubai Police's anti-narcotics division coordinated a sting operation to catch the suspect in the act. Investigators replaced the real drugs with dummy materials and tracked the shipment to its final delivery point. The suspect was arrested red-handed while attempting to collect the consignment from a delivery centre in Dubai. The officer who testified in the case said that they monitored the suspect closely until authorities had enough evidence. The suspect walked into the trap without realising he had been under surveillance. The man initially denied the charges during interrogation and trial, claiming he had no knowledge of the contents of the parcels. However, prosecutors presented strong evidence, including surveillance footage, forensic reports, and customs records linking him directly to the shipments. The Court of First Instance found the evidence against the defendant overwhelming and sentenced him to life in prison. The verdict was later upheld by the Dubai Court of Appeal after the defendant contested the ruling. The case underscores the UAE's zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking, with authorities reiterating that anyone caught attempting to bring drugs into the country, regardless of quantity or method, will face the full force of the law. The Dubai Police commended the swift coordination between customs, forensic experts, and narcotics officers, which prevented the drugs from reaching the streets. 'This is a message to all drug traffickers: the UAE is not a transit point or market for drugs. Our systems are robust, and our people are trained to detect even the most discreet attempts at smuggling,' the police statement added. The defendant remains in custody and will serve a life sentence in Dubai Central Prison, pending his eventual deportation.
South China Morning Post
28-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong family in suspected murder-suicide case ‘were about to emigrate to UK'
A young Hong Kong family of four found dead in a suspected hotel murder-suicide case at the weekend had planned to fly to Britain on Monday to emigrate, with the lease on their suite ending next month, the Post has learned. The father, a former customs inspector, was found dead on Sunday after jumping out of a window at the Panda Hotel in Tsuen Wan. Officers discovered his wife and two sons, aged six and three, dead inside the hotel suite. A source said on Monday that the family's visa applications had already been approved but their plans to move to Britain were delayed because the three-year-old boy had a foot condition. 'He had undergone two operations, but the results were unsatisfactory, so they could only delay the emigration plan,' the source said. The hotel case has been classified as a murder-suicide, with the cause of the killings still under investigation. The tragedy at the hotel came to light after the father jumped to his death. Photo: May Tse A preliminary forensic examination found the man's wife had cut wounds on her back and neck. The six-year-old boy was found in one bedroom with cut wounds on his forearms and palms. The three-year-old was located in the other bedroom and had cut wounds on his chest and neck.
