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One convicted, six acquitted in Hong Kong bomb plot case

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  • One convicted, six acquitted in Hong Kong bomb plot case
  • August 29, 2024
  • Article Body Text HONG KONG — <p>A Hong Kong jury on Thursday found one person guilty and acquitted six others in what authorities said was a plot to carry out a bombing to murder police officers in 2019.</p> <p>The alleged bomb plot occurred when Hong Kong was undergoing massive and at times violent pro-democracy protests that year, which have since been quashed by police.</p> <p>The seven defendants were part of two radical groups, including one called &quot;Dragon Slayers,&quot; that prosecutors said planned a bomb attack for a rally marking International Human Rights Day.</p> <p>They were charged under the anti-terrorism act for conspiring to place two bombs along the rally's marching route on Dec. 10, 2019. This was the first time the law was invoked since its 2002 enactment.</p> <p>According to Hong Kong local media, six defendants were found not guilty on Thursday.</p> <p>But defendant Lai Chun-pong, who was 29 when he was arrested, was found guilty of &quot;conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life or to cause serious injury to property.&quot;</p> <p>The offense carries a maximum jail term of 20 years.</p> <p>During a trial that lasted nearly 80 days, prosecutors said police found two improvised explosive devices near a secondary school -- alleged evidence of the planned bombing, which did not proceed.</p> <p>Police also seized four guns, including an AR-15 rifle, as well as hundreds of bullets at the homes of three defendants, the court heard.</p> <p>Seven others have previously pleaded guilty, with alleged group leader Wong Chun-keung and members Eddie Pang and David Su testifying as prosecution witnesses.</p> <p>Hong Kong authorities have deployed an extensive legal arsenal to charge thousands of people over their involvement in 2019's democracy protests.</p> <p>The anti-terrorism law used to charge the defendants was enacted in 2002 and is separate from the national security laws implemented in the wake of the 2019 protests.</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date August 29, 2024 04:53 EDT
  • Byline Agence France-Presse
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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