HK man faces 9 years in Taiwan jail for MRT pickpocketing spree

A 56-year-old Hong Kong man who stole wallets from 13 passengers on Taiwan's MRT trains and used the credit card chips to make counterfeit cards has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison.



Taipei prosecutors said the man, identified as Chow Wai, joined a fraud syndicate in December 2025 and made three trips to Taiwan between December and March.



Chow targeted passengers on Taipei and Kaohsiung MRT trains.



One victim's card was used to make about HK$23,000 overseas purchase within 20 minutes of the theft.



Police arrested Chow at a hotel in Taoyuan following an investigation.