A self-proclaimed local bully set petrol bombs at a restaurant after its boss refused to pay protection fees, a court heard yesterday. Ng Ton-pui, 25, collected protection fees from restaurants in the Hunghom area, the District Court was told. He admitted charges of arson and blackmail and two of theft before Judge Fergal Sweeney yesterday. During meetings with a police sergeant, Wu Chung-yi, who was working undercover at the Toro Japanese Restaurant in Hunghom in November last year, the defendant demanded protection fees, for a two-year period, of $160,000. Earlier payments totalling $12,000 had been made. Ng was arrested as he collected the cash. Prosecutor David Tolliday-Wright said another restaurant was damaged by petrol bombs. Police said its owner had refused to pay Ng. Judge Sweeney adjourned sentence until June 23 for background reports.
