Autistic teen sent to rehabilitation centre for vandalising grave of Hong Kong singer

A 16-year-old boy diagnosed with autism has been sent to a Hong Kong rehabilitation centre for vandalising the grave and headstone of the band Beyond’s lead singer Wong Ka-kui, while his co-defendant has been sentenced to a detention centre.

Chief Magistrate So Wai-tak heard the prosecution ask the pair in Kwun Tong Court on Tuesday to pay HK$9,000 (US$1,150), but the student, who was 15 years old when he damaged the singer’s grave, said he was unable to compensate the owner for the damage.

Co-defendant Yip Tsz-to, 23, an air-conditioning technician, said he could pay HK$4,500 after he served his custodial sentence.

The two earlier pleaded guilty to a joint count of criminal damage for vandalism of Wong’s burial site at the Junk Bay Chinese Permanent Cemetery in Yau Tong on May 19.

“A gravestone is a sign of paying respect to the ancestor and commemorating him, but [the boy] damaged it for effect and gaining fame, and that is rather a shame,” So said before passing the sentence.

Three videos found on Yip’s phone showed that the boy inflicted damage on Wong’s burial site, including biting flowers placed on the gravestone, splashing soda on it, smashing the photo of the singer with a hammer, and writing letters on the stone with a black marker pen.