Custodial sentences for LegCo blast duo

es. She added that it was “pure luck” no one was injured.

The blast damaged a dustbin that cost HK$1,250, throwing its lid as much as 30 centimeters into the air and causing the fire alarm at a nearby public toilet go off.

“Nobody could predict the brisance of the blast. The consequences would be unthinkable, as chaos would have resulted from people fleeing the scene if the fire had spread — leading to injuries,” Wong noted.

Therefore, Wong said, deterrent sentences were needed to ease public’s concerns on the incident, and to convey a message that “no one is above the law”.

After hearing evidence in mitigation from Yeung, the judge said the court would not consider any reduction in the jail term. This was because Yeung, as an adult, should have known the consequences of his behavior.

The judge also dismissed the defense lawyers’ submission claiming that the pair’s conduct was not premeditated. She noted that before the incident occurred, the offenders discussed with other people about how to cause the blast.

On Dec 9, 2015, a large group of protesters gathered outside the LegCo Complex in Tamar when a copyright bill amendment was being read by the city’s legislators.

Previously the court was told that Yeung, the former president of Shue Yan University’s student union and an ex-auxiliary policeman, had asked his friend to buy alcohol and newspapers and subsequently put them in a trash bin outside the LegCo Complex.

The bin exploded minutes after two other men, who had their faces covered and were holding a torch gun and a gas tin, approached it.

Yeung was charged with conspiracy to commit arson and convicted on March 2 this year. His co-defendant Ip, who was unemployed, pleaded guilty to the same charge in January, admitting he acted as a lookout. years

imprisonment was given to Joe Yeung Yat-long for conspiracy to commit arson outside the Legislative Council Complex in December 2015.

Elaborating on Ip’s sentencing, the judge said Ip’s immediate confession to the offense proved his remorse. Serving at a detention center was a “short” sentence but it was also a serious penalty, explained Wong.

The judge did not reveal how long the detention would last.