Stewardess guilty of stealing from trolley

(07 January 2009)

A former Cathay Pacific stewardess has been found guilty of stealing 168 items from a plane's trolleys during a single flight.

Kwong Man-fong, 43, lifted biscuits, mineral water, beer, sewing kits, pens, noodles and shaving cream on a flight from Auckland to Hong Kong in July.

Two colleagues reported the thefts to the captain. She resigned and was later prosecuted and sentenced to community service.

In her defence, she claimed she stole the items while suffering exhaustion because of the effects of medication and had not slept for 33 hours.