‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ leader appeals to Hong Kong court to further reduce sentence
Wong Chun-keung, 26, expresses remorse and promises to ‘improve’ himself, but judge underlines acquittals in case that cast doubt on his testimony
The ringleader of a team behind a thwarted 2019 bomb plot targeting Hong Kong police has asked a court to weigh his evidence and further reduce his sentence for serving as a prosecution witness and securing the conviction of the mastermind, despite six other defendants being acquitted.
“Dragon Slaying Brigade” leader Wong Chun-keung, 26, returned to the High Court on Thursday to give his mitigation submission, asking Madam Justice Judianna Wai-ling Barnes to consider that he “ran the risk of retaliation” from those who were charged in connection with the bomb plot by agreeing to testify.
Seven people were earlier charged under the United Nations Anti-Terrorism Measures Ordinance – the first time the UN law had been invoked since its enactment in 2002 – and stood trial from April to August for their alleged connection with the plot to kill police officers and plant two bombs in Wan Chai on December 8, 2019.
Last month, the jury pronounced one of the accused, 33-year-old Lai Chun-pong, guilty, but cleared the six other defendants of all charges.
In his plea bargain with the Department of Justice, Wong had admitted to one count of conspiring to commit the bombing of prescribed objects and another of conspiring to provide or collect property for committing terrorist acts, both under the UN law.
He served as a prosecution witness and testified against former brigade members, saying they had agreed to carry out the attack and knew about the use of real guns and explosives in the plot.
In his mitigation submission, Wong asked to court to consider the “physical threat” he might face in the aftermath of the trial.
