Trainee nurse at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital jailed 28 months for stealing patients' belongings; mitigation cites financial hardship, judge rebukes damage to doctor-patient trust

A male trainee nurse at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital pleaded guilty to 11 counts of theft and was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment by Deputy District Judge Lai Kim-wah. The defendant faced 14 theft charges involving the theft of mobile phones, cash and credit cards from patients and medical staff, with the amount involved exceeding $90,000. Mitigation stated that the offence was committed due to financial hardship, while the judge criticised his abuse of his trainee nurse status and the damage done to doctor-patient trust.