Briefs, February 12, 2013

Two teenagers yesterday appeared in Tuen Mun Court on a joint charge of arson for allegedly setting fire to umbrellas and other items at a Tin Shui Wai estate on Friday. Yu Siu-chung, 16, and another boy, 15, entered no plea. They are accused of burning seven umbrellas, an iron gate, a wooden door and two corridor lights outside a flat on the Tin Tsz Estate. The lights were the property of the Housing Authority and the other items belonged to one Ng Kai-shing. Their case was adjourned to March 11. They were remanded in custody.

A cook, 39, entered no plea in Tuen Mun Court on charges of rape and buggery. Fung Chi-man has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of buggery with a woman under the age of 21. Authorities say the offences occurred in July and August last year - one in a room at a Yuen Long hotel, and two others in a Tin Shui Wai flat where Fung lived. His case was adjourned to February 25, and he was remanded in custody.