The entry gate of the Kowloon Tong MTR station was damaged by gasoline bombs the previous year. Four men were accused of being involved in the case and arrested. Two of them pleaded guilty, one was convicted, and one was convicted of not guilty.
The judge said today (28th) that the case involved arson of a MTR facility. The sentence should be deterrent to protect the safety of transportation hub staff and users. There were still passers-by at the moment of ignition, except for the presence of The risk of personal injury will also bring panic. Three men were sentenced to four years and two months to four and a half years in prison.
4 persons involved in the case and 1 person exonerated
Four defendants: Zeng Yusheng (26 years old, deliveryman), Huang Hanwei (30 years old, Party Room shop owner), Zheng Weisen (33 years old, self-employed) and Wang Jinfa (40 years old, construction worker).
Four people were charged with conspiracy with intent to arson, while others were charged with possession of objects with intent to destroy property, possession of offensive weapons, and possession of firearms.
Zeng Jihuang had pleaded guilty earlier, Wang Jing was found guilty after trial, while Zheng Ze was not guilty and was acquitted.
3 The convicted defendants each need to pay 9,300 yuan
The judge believes that although Huang was the one who set fire to the gate and only put flammable materials at the gate, they had the same criminal responsibilities. They were found to have other petrol bombs, stylus pens, knives, etc., and one knife was even more deadly. For weapons, he was finally sentenced to 52 months in prison; Huang Ze was sentenced to 50 months in prison; the convicted Wang was sentenced to 54 months because of his passive role.
Each of the three people has to pay about 9,300 yuan in compensation.
Defendant MTR arson damaged two turnstiles
The defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to endanger life and arson, alleging that they conspired to use fire to destroy or damage property belonging to them or others in Hong Kong on or about October 12, 2019.
They also charged an alternate charge of "arson with intent to endanger life", which alleges that four people used fire to damage two gates belonging to the MTR at the exit G1 of Kowloon Tong Station on the same day.
Was also involved in possession of petrol bombs and other crimes
The first defendant, Zeng Yusheng, was also charged with possession of objects with intent to destroy or damage property, possession of offensive weapons or tools suitable for illegal purposes, and possession of firearms without a license.
The charges separately stated that he was in possession of 5 petrol bombs, 11 bottles of petrol, a pack of white woolen cloth, 5 stylus pens, 3 hammers, a pocket knife, and a unit in Xiumoping on January 7, 2020. Knives, and a canister of sprays containing harmful chemicals.
Excluding alternate charges, the first defendant pleaded guilty to all charges before the trial.
Acquitted defendant or unknown others planned arson
In the judge’s ruling, the judge stated that the only exonerated Zheng had little interaction with the first two defendants before the incident. It also pointed out that from social media messages, Zheng might not know that the other defendants planned or participated in arson, so he was found not guilty. .
The message shows that Wang is willing to participate
However, the message showed that Wang expressed his willingness to participate in the violent behavior of throwing petrol bombs or throwing stones. Although he expressed his unwillingness to go to jail, he also made psychological preparations, believing that he committed the crime knowingly, and provided support and supplies near the arson site. He was convicted.
Sentences for arson in MTR facilities need to be deterrent
The judge sentenced that the case involved arson of MTR facilities, which threatened the lives of staff and passengers in the station. The sentence should be deterrent to protect the life safety of transportation hub staff and users and to deter others from committing crimes.
Accomplices and premeditated crimes
The judge also pointed out that the case involved accomplices and premeditated, and that the arson site was one of the busiest MTR stations. At the moment of ignition, there were still passers-by within two meters of the fire, and the smoke rushed into the sky. The risk of injury will also bring panic, and the blockade of the relevant area will also bring inconvenience to the public.
Case Number: DCCC553/2020
1 defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to set fire at Kowloon Tong MTR station, and 3 pleaded not guilty to trial [fugitive offenders Ordinance] 4 men involved in arson at Kowloon Tong station, a fat and thin man suspected of handling petrol bombs [MTR petrol bombs 】Kowloon Tong Station’s petrol bomb destroyed two gates and five men were arrested and police inspected air guns
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