The Pakistani man arrested for last week's prostitute killings was charged with three counts of murder yesterday while police are still looking for the perpetrator of the fourth murder.

The 23-year-old Pakistani man Nadeem Razaq, arrested early Tuesday morning, appeared in Fanling Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. He was charged with murdering 35-year-old prostitute Sze Ming-lan in Yuen Long last Friday, and Suen Sau-man and Tse Hau-yuen in Tai Po the following day.

A police van carrying the triple-murder suspect arrives at Fanling Magistrate's Court yesterday. Nadeem Razaq, 23, is alleged to have killed three prostitutes in Yuen Long and Tai Po on Friday and Saturday. China Daily

The defendant complained to the magistrate through his lawyer that he was assaulted by Macao police and denied legal service by police officers in Hong Kong.

Razaq, a strongly built man who has dyed his hair blonde, appeared calm inside the court room for the 15-minute trial. The charges were read to him through an Urdu interpreter, but no plea was taken.

He arrived in Macao at about 9pm on Monday. But Macao police later apprehended him and escorted him back to Hong Kong. Police found on him two mobile phones which belonged to two of the victims.

The prosecutor asked for an adjournment until Thursday and demanded Razaq to be in police custody for identification procedures related to the three murders. The prosecutor also cited that the police need time to interview other prostitutes in the districts and search Razaq's home.

Forensic investigation was continuing, the prosecutor added.

But Razaq's lawyer objected to his client remaining in police custody claiming he had been assaulted by Macao police.

Razaq was also denied an interpreter and contact with his lawyer after he was escorted to Hong Kong until yesterday morning.

Razaq also demanded a health check by a doctor.

The lawyer said Razaq will feel stressed in police custody, and demanded jail custody for him.

However, Magistrate Jenkins approved the police custody and adjourned the case until Tuesday.

Security outside the court building was tight with more than a dozen police officers forming a cordon to hold back newspaper photographers and television cameramen.

Meanwhile sex workers are still worried about their personal safety as the murderer of the fourth sex worker in North Point on Monday is still at large.

The media reported that the murderer was a copy-cat killer, who was close to the victim. It was reported that police had approached mainland security officials for assistance.

Officers from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau were seen in the North Point building, posting notices for investigation assistance and giving out leaflets asking prostitutes to be cautious.

(HK Edition 03/20/2008 page1)