Construction Worker Jailed For Protest Petrol Bomb

A 21-year-old construction worker was sentenced to three years and four months in prison on Thursday for throwing a petrol bomb at a police station, in a case which also involves one of the 12 young Hongkongers detained in Shenzhen.

The District Court heard that along with other people, construction worker Lam Siu-hung threw a petrol bomb at a side door of Mong Kok Police Station on October 14 last year, at the height of the anti-government protests. He was arrested by officers as he ran away.

Lam pleaded guilty to attempted arson with intent.

In mitigation, his lawyer told the court that his client was poorly educated and had a low level of intelligence. Lam's action was not related to politics, the lawyer said.

But district judge Anthony Kwok said even if Lam is not as smart as other people, this would not affect his ability to tell right from wrong.

The judge noted that the throwing of the petrol bomb did not result in any damage, injuries or a fire, but said he needed to pass a deterrent sentence because targeting the police in such a way was a very serious crime.

An arrest warrant had been issued for the second defendant in the case who along with 11 other Hongkongers was picked up by the Guangdong coast guard in August during an apparent bid to flee the SAR for Taiwan by speedboat.

The 12 face charges relating to illegally entering mainland waters.