Mastermind of karaoke firebomb gets two life terms
The mastermind of the 1997 firebombing of a Tsim Sha Tsui karaoke bar that cost 17 lives was jailed yesterday for two life terms, with the judge warning him his deeds 'will haunt you for the rest of your life'.
Choi Kam-fai, 35, who was captured after almost 12 years on the run, was found guilty by a Court of First Instance jury on Monday on two counts of murder - one for 15 people who died in the attack, and one for two who died two days later. He had pleaded not guilty.
As Choi begins his concurrent sentences, two suspects police say played 'very important roles' in the attack remain at large, with police calling for public help and posting a reward of HK$200,000 for information leading to the arrest of either.
In sentencing Choi, Recorder Mr Andrew Macrae said he 'must pay a heavy responsibility' for the tragedy.
'It's clear from what was heard [during the trial] that your role was a prominent one. Indeed, the whole tragedy arose from your reaction to what happened on January 20,' Macrae said, referring to the night that Choi had a dispute with bouncers that led him on the course of revenge that culminated in the firebombing.
Had it not been for mainland authorities who arrested him in 2008, the judge said, no doubt Choi would still be on the run.
The court heard that Choi and others from the Sun Yee On triad threw three petrol bombs into Top One Karaoke Box on Prat Avenue between 3.30am and 4am on January 25, 1997, as retribution for the earlier dispute with bouncers of the Wo Shing Wo triad, which left Choi hurt.
Choi and his group made several abortive attempts to attack the karaoke bar in the days after the dispute but were thwarted each time for different reasons. Finally, on the 25th, the firebomb attack succeeded.
Three of the group - Tung Shing-fei, Lee Ka-ho and Lau Ying-tat - were convicted of murder for the attack and jailed in 1998. They testified against Choi. Two alleged accomplices, 'Mei Mei' Chan Wai-leung, 37, and Chan Fok-ching, 31, alias Ah Ching, are still on the run.
Choi appeared calm as the judge passed sentence. Murder carries a mandatory punishment of life imprisonment.
Choi, once a transport worker, had five convictions - three for robbery, one for possession of an offensive weapon, and one for breaching a probation order - by the time he was 19, according to documents read in court. He had met two of his accomplices in the firebombing while serving a sentence at a training centre for the last of the prior offences.
Choi's barrister, Ian Polson, said Choi had been scared after the firebombing because the result was far more extensive and tragic than any of the participants had anticipated. Choi's immediate thought had been to escape, and he spent years leading a false life on the run, Polson said.
Hong Kong Police arrested Choi in December 2008 after mainland authorities caught him.
Organised crimes and triad bureau chief inspector Man Tat-shing, who described Choi as the 'mastermind' of the attack, said the mainland Public Security Ministry had continued hunting for Choi for more than a decade and kept in touch with Hong Kong throughout the period.
He and Macrae said mainland authorities were to be thanked for Choi's arrest.
Man said he hoped Choi's conviction and sentencing would bring consolation to the victims' families.
