Judge upholds man's six-month jail sentence for fire threat during Mong Kok protests

A High Court judge yesterday upheld the six-month prison sentence imposed on a man who threatened to set fire to pro- democracy demonstrators in Mong Kok during last year's Occupy protests.

Mrs Justice Judianna Barnes Wai-ling told Ma Hei-yuk, 45, that using violence to express anger would not be tolerated.

The judge said while she could understand that Ma and many other citizens had their lives disrupted by the political movement, that was no excuse to commit a violent crime.

"If everyone claimed he was affected, then he could do whatever he wanted, and if the court showed leniency to him, it would become a very serious matter," she said.

Ma, who was born on the mainland and is now a Hong Kong resident, admitted he was angry that protesters had defied a court injunction and continued their occupation of the main road in Mong Kok.

After travelling from his home in Tin Shiu Wai on October 22, Ma threw three bottles of paint thinner on the ground at the protest site and held a lighter in his hand, claiming he wanted to "die together" with the protesters.