The IT manager of a global audit company in Hong Kong, who allegedly swindled the firm by making away with 399 laptops worth approximately HK$2.8 million (US$347,188), has been granted bail by the court. Ho Man-kit, aged 38, had his preliminary hearing at Eastern Court on Tuesday, where he was charged with theft.

The accusations stem from a period between September 1, 2021, and February 13, 2023, during which Ho is believed to have taken the laptops from the Taikoo Shing office of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Court papers available for media review suggest the total value of the stolen equipment is in excess of HK$2.79 million.

At this early stage, the prosecution did not insist on Ho entering a plea. Instead, they requested the court to provide additional time to conduct further police investigations and to obtain legal advice from the Department of Justice.

The presiding judge, Don So Man-lung, granted Ho bail and postponed the subsequent hearing to April 28, thereby giving the police and the Department of Justice ample time to look into the matter more deeply.

This incident underlines the risks companies face with internal security and the importance of implementing robust measures to safeguard assets. For investors and those with an interest in the corporate world, it serves as a reminder of the need to scrutinize a company’s internal controls and risk management strategies.