Surveyor Convicted Of Carrying A Laser Pointer

A Lands Department surveyor was on Thursday remanded in custody after being found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon – namely a laser pointer – at the scene of a protest.

Lui Kai-tim had earlier told Kwun Tong Magistracy that he had just finished having dinner with his family in Ngau Tau Kok on October 13, 2019 when he saw the police dispersing protesters.

He claimed he was frightened and tried to leave the scene along the same route as black-clad protesters, before he was stopped and arrested by officers for "running away suspiciously".

Police found the laser pointer when searching Lui, but there was no suggestion that he had done anything with it.

Magistrate Minnie Wat questioned the 33-year-old’s testimony, however, saying it was highly suspicious for Lui to be present at the scene at the very moment a protest was taking place.

Wat also dismissed the defendant’s argument that he had to use the laser pointer for work, saying Lui had no work plans on the day in question.

She found him guilty of one count of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and adjourned sentencing to March 11, pending a background report, with Lui taken into custody in the meantime.