Former Hong Kong auxiliary policeman jailed for ‘stupid and reckless’ Legco arson attack
Joe Yeung Yat-long was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson after the blaze outside the Legislative Council complex in December 2015
Handing down what she stressed was a deterrent sentence, deputy judge Lily Wong Sze-lai said the offence was serious in that the premeditated plot could have inflicted injuries to people in the vicinity and more serious economic loss. It was lucky that no one was injured, she said.
“No matter how noble one’s cause is, one should not resort to illegal means to express his or her demands,” she said, adding she needed to stop copycat behaviour. “No one is above the law.”
His co-defendant, Ip Cheuk-yin, 21, who admitted acting as lookout and pleaded guilty to the same charge early this year, was sent to a training centre to receive “rigorous” training.
The judge slammed the duo for using not just matches or lighters, but alcohol and a blowtorch in the arson in an area where there were members of the public and security officers.
The incident prompted a specialist team of officers to be deployed to tackle the incident, which Wong said was caused by the pair’s “stupid, selfish and reckless behaviours”.
