Hong Kong court hands down record-breaking sentence in explosive plot case
Hong Kongʼs court delivered its longest-ever protest-related sentence to a group planning attacks with explosives. Eight people received various prison terms for their involvement in a plot targeting law-enforcement
In a ground-breaking ruling today Hong Kongʼs high court dealt harsh sentences to eight people involved in a bomb-plot scheme. The main defendant Ng Chi-hung got a twenty-three year prison term for master-minding the attack plan
The court found that Ng and his co-conspirators made detailed plans to use home-made explosives during the mass-protests (which happened about 5 years ago). Wong Chun-keung who led a protest-group called Dragon Slayers received thirteen years behind bars; while other participants got shorter terms
The judge explained her decision pointing out the schemes vicious nature and its war-like intentions against society. Police found real evidence including: bullets and bomb-making materials during their search
- A defendant named Lai Chun-pong denied all charges
- Five other people admitted their part in the scheme
- The group planned to use two explosive devices
- Police stopped them before they could act
This case marks the first time since early 2000s that courts used the UN anti-terrorism rules. Law-enforcement officials say this verdict – which is the longest for any protest-related crime – will stop others from trying similar acts
This ruling will have a substantial deterrent effect
The timing of todays decision comes right before another big court case where forty-five pro-democracy figures face their own legal troubles
