Fortune teller who 'gave businessman bad advice' had water ready when office was torched

A businessman has pleaded guilty to setting fire to the office of a fortune teller whom he believed harmed his family and business by giving bad advice.

Roewe Lok Wai, 42, said he had no intention of hurting fung shui master Yeo Wai-ho, widely known as Yeung Tin-ming, or anyone else in the January incident, and only wanted to warn the public not to believe in soothsaying, the District Court heard yesterday.

Outside court, Yeo said he had foretold a "fire attack" was imminent. He had prepared nine buckets of water in his office and taken the day off to avoid danger, he told reporters.

Defence barrister Peter Wong Ting-kwong described Lok as a man who had a happy family and a good business in 2000. "But he relied on fortune advice and lost everything, and [will end] up in prison," Wong told the court.

The defendant entered a guilty plea over one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

Judge Amanda Woodcock adjourned the sentencing to August 14 pending a psychological report.