The story of the kidnapping of Asia’s richest man’s son and the astonishing ransom of $130 million is one of the most incredible tales of modern-day criminal activity. In 2010, a Hong Kong gangster snatched the child of Li Ka-shing, the world’s ninth-richest individual, and demanded an enormous ransom. The abduction of Li’s son, Victor, was carried out with exceptional precision, and the kidnapper was even able to make calls to the prominent businessman and ask for advice on how to invest the ransom.
The kidnapping of Victor Li began on June 17, 2010, when the twelve-year-old was snatched from his school in Hong Kong. The kidnappers had gone to great lengths to ensure that their target was totally unaware of their presence. Prior to the kidnapping, the gang had meticulously planned their route and had even set up a fake delivery service to get an unmarked van to the school. Once the van arrived at the school, two men pretending to be delivery drivers grabbed Victor and drove away.
When the news of the kidnapping broke, the kidnappers contacted Li Ka-shing and demanded a ransom of $130 million. To make sure that the ransom was paid, the kidnappers sent a video of Victor to Li, along with a message that said “Pay the ransom, or we will kill him”. Faced with no other option, Li paid the ransom.
However, the story took an unexpected turn when the kidnapper contacted Li Ka-shing again. The kidnapper, who was identified as Cheung Tze-keung, asked for advice on how to invest the ransom. Li was obviously surprised by the request and asked Cheung why he wanted to invest the money. Cheung explained that he wanted to ensure that the money was put to good use and that it would benefit society in some way.
Li eventually agreed to give Cheung advice on the best way to invest the money. However, the advice was never taken as Cheung was arrested a few weeks later. He was sentenced to life in prison, where he remains to this day.
The kidnapping of Victor Li and the subsequent request from Cheung for advice on how to invest the ransom money was an extraordinary event. The story highlights the lengths to which criminals will go to achieve their goals, and also the lengths to which people will go to protect their families and loved ones. It also serves as a reminder that crime, no matter how sophisticated, will not go unpunished.