Hong Kong woman arrested over suspected killing, gambling den case
Hong Kong police arrested a 62-year-old woman on suspicion of running an illegal gambling operation and mishandling a dead body, after a man was found unresponsive outside a hair salon in Sham Shui Po and later confirmed dead.
The woman had initially contacted police at around 12.42 am on 19 April 2025, claiming to be a passer-by who discovered the man collapsed outside the salon on Yee Kuk Street in Kowloon. Emergency services arrived at the scene and took the 65-year-old man to Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po, where he was later pronounced dead.
However, police began to suspect inconsistencies in the woman’s account after reviewing CCTV footage from the area. The video evidence appeared to show that the man’s body had been moved from a nearby building to the pavement outside the salon.
Women suspected of running casino racket
Investigators now believe the woman may have relocated the body in an attempt to mislead authorities about the circumstances of the man’s death. She was subsequently arrested on suspicion of providing false information to police, mishandling a deceased body, and operating an unauthorised gambling operation.
The woman is currently being held for questioning by the Sham Shui Po District Crime Division. A postmortem examination will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.
The police have not yet disclosed whether others may have been involved in the incident, nor have they revealed details about the premises where the body is thought to have originated.
Police said investigations into the Sham Shui Po case are ongoing and urged the public to report any suspicious activity involving unlicensed gambling to the force.
Gambling predominantly banned in city
Although gambling is predominantly banned in Hong Kong, with exceptions for certain regulated outlets like the Hong Kong Jockey Club, illegal gambling continues to be a significant problem. In 2024, Hong Kong police found more than 1,200 illegal gambling dens across the city, arresting more than 3,500 individuals in connection with such operations. Many of these illegal establishments are found operating behind seemingly ordinary storefronts, such as cafés or hair salons, particularly in older neighbourhoods.
Authorities have stepped up enforcement in recent years, citing concerns about links between unlicensed gambling venues and organised crime groups. These locations are often associated with money laundering, loan-sharking, and other criminal activities.
The incident has sparked new concerns regarding the effectiveness of existing measures to prevent the resurgence of underground gambling houses, especially in densely populated urban regions.
