A Police Constable has been jailed three months for demanding payment for the return of a stolen handbag.

Pato Fong, 39, was found guilty at Kowloon City Magistracy of accepting an advantage.

Magistrate Kevin Browne reprimanded Fong for concealing his identity as a policeman and asking for a reward for returning the bag.

On July 18 last year, Fong received the bag from a contact in Mong Kok. He then called the Police console to ascertain that no one had reported the snatching of the bag in Mong Kok or Yau Ma Tei. He also did not report that he had the bag.

He found the handbag owner and did not disclose his identity as an officer. He was asked to deliver the bag to a nearby police station, but refused, telling the woman it would cost her $500 to replace her identity card and re-entry permit. She offered $200 to get the documents back from him.