Suspect arrested for killing of four Hong Kong prostitutes (Roundup)

Mar 18, 2008, 10:02 GMT

Hong Kong - A 24-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday in the hunt for a serial strangler suspected of killing four prostitutes in Hong Kong in the space of three days.

The Pakistani national was arrested as he arrived back in Hong Kong by ferry early Tuesday from the neighboring gambling resort of Macau, a police spokesman said.

He was taken into custody after a joint operation with police in Macau and was being questioned Tuesday about the killing spree that has spread fear through Hong Kong's vice trade.

Two mobile phones believed to have belonged to two of the victims were found on the suspect when he was arrested, said police who added that they believe the motive for the killings might have been simple robbery.

A manhunt was launched across the city after the bodies of four prostitutes were found between Saturday and Monday in the flats where they entertained their clients.

The first victim, a 35-year-old prostitute, was found Saturday strangled with a shower hose in the bathroom of her home in the city's Yuen Long district near its border with mainland China.

On Sunday morning, a 30-year-old prostitute died in hospital after being found unconscious in her flat in nearby Tai Po. A third victim, 35, was found in her flat Monday morning, also in Tai Po.

The fourth victim, a 27-year-old prostitute, was found dead in the city's North Point district hours later on Monday afternoon. She is believed to have been dead for some time.

In each case, the prostitutes were apparently strangled and their flats ransacked for money. A strongly built South Asian man was identified as a suspect Monday.

A phone call was intercepted as the man made plans to visit a friend late Tuesday in Macau, a 45-minute ferry ride from Hong Kong, police sources said.

Macau police, cooperating with their Hong Kong counterparts, turned the suspect back as he arrived in Macau. He was arrested as he stepped off the ferry back in Hong Kong.

The killings caused widespread fear and panic among the city's prostitutes, many of whom come to Hong Kong from neighboring mainland China.

Groups representing sex workers staged a protest at police headquarters in Hong Kong Tuesday, demanding talks with the commissioner and greater protection for prostitutes in the city of 6.9 million.

The Hong Kong killings are strikingly similar to the 2006 British case of the 'Suffolk Strangler' when the bodies of five prostitutes were found in the space of 10 days.

Forklift driver Steve Wright, 49, hailed at the time as one of the fastest serial killers of all time, was found guilty of the murders and jailed for life last month.