Hong Kong- A Hong Kong judge Friday expressed sympathy for a man who set fire to two loan sharks after he asked to borrow 1,900 US dollars and was given just over 100 US dollars after deductions from his loan, a radio report said Friday. The 33-year-old defendant lost his cool after he initially asked for a loan of 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (1,918 US dollars) but was told by the loan sharks they could only advance him 6,000 Hong Kong dollars (767 US dollars).
He agreed to the loan but was then given a sum of just 850 Hong Kong dollars (108 US dollars) after being told that the "fees and charges" had been deducted from the amount in advance, government-run radio station RTHK reported.
The man, who works as a masseur, was convicted of assaulting the loan sharks by setting them on fire, leaving them with serious injuries, at a hearing in Hong Kong's High Court Friday.
Judge Judianna Barnes sentenced the defendant to four years in jail, saying she was giving him a lenient sentence because he had no previous convictions and she could "understand why he was furious," RTHK said.
Hong Kong is known for its loan sharks who offer money at illegally high rates of interest. Loan shark rackets are usually operated by the territory's triad gangs.
