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SCMP Reporter

A POLICEMAN was blinded in one eye when a grenade was thrown during a police raid on a Tsuen Wan flat, the High Court heard yesterday.

  The court was told shots were fired through the door to prevent police from entering and an AK-47 assault rifle and several pistols were used in a gang's escape.

  On trial before Mr Justice Ryan and a jury are Yeung Kit, 28, and Yau Chor-shan, 25, who have both denied all the charges laid against them.

  They are accused of possessing arms and ammunition without a licence, namely an AK-47 assault rifle, four pistols, eight fragmentation grenades and 176 rounds of ammunition.

  They are also jointly charged with two counts of use of arms and ammunition to resist arrest and one of possession of arms and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

  In addition, Yeung faces one count of discharging a firearm with reckless disregard for the safety of others and one of false imprisonment.

  Opening for the Crown, prosecutor Yasmin Mahomed said that in the early hours of December 2, 1992, officers from the Special Duty Unit went to Kwang Chau House, Tsuen Wan Centre.

  They telephoned the occupants of a 23rd-floor flat, informing them that they were the police and asking them to surrender. The request was later repeated with a loud-hailer. But the occupants refused and fired shots through the closed door, counsel said.

  To stop the police entering, she said, a grenade was thrown into the living-room, causing an explosion.

  At the same time, a second grenade was thrown out of the flat and exploded at ground level outside, injuring a police officer who was permanently blinded in his left eye, Miss Mahomed said. She said the officers then threw tear-gas and entered the flat after sawing through the iron grille and breaking down the door.

  But Yeung, Yau and two other men had escaped through the window, armed with a rifle and three pistols, the court heard.

   Counsel said Yeung and two of the men climbed down to the flat below and hid there for a while after firing a shot to get rid of the occupants.

  They had then gone up to the 27th floor, where they shouted out ''fire, police''.

   When the occupants of one of the flats opened the door, the trio entered, then detained the three occupants - one man and two women - against their will, said Miss Mahomed.

  In the meantime, she said, Yau, who had also escaped from the 23rd-floor flat through the window, climbed into a flat on the 20th floor then left by the front door and hid.

  Police then conducted a flat-to-flat search, during which Yau was found.

  Yeung was apprehended in the 27th-floor flat, where a rifle and three pistols were also seized, she said.

  Another pistol, probably dropped by one of the gang, was also recovered in the vicinity, Miss Mahomed said. All the weapons had been loaded.

  Counsel said the 23rd-floor flat raided by the police was searched and six grenades were found, together with a large amount of ammunition. Under caution, both Yeung and Yau had allegedly admitted the whole episode.

  The hearing continues.



Policeman blinded by grenade