Hong Kong protests: alleged Telegram channel administrator charged with inciting arson against police facilities, denied bail

Prosecutors say computer technician Ng Man-ho incited others to damage police vehicles and set the officers’ quarters on fire

Hit with seven separate counts, the 26-year-old was remanded to await hearing on November 20

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The Telegram messaging app proved popular with protesters during Hong Kong’s months of social unrest. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:29pm, 28 Aug 2020Updated: 10:50pm, 28 Aug 2020

A Hong Kong man suspected to be an administrator of a Telegram channel with more than 100,000 members was remanded by a court on Friday after being accused of inciting users to damage police property and interfere with traffic during last year’s anti-government protests.

Ng Man-ho, 26, a computer technician, appeared in Kowloon City Court in the late afternoon where he was formally charged with one count of incitement to cause public nuisance, five counts of incitement to commit arson, and one count of incitement to criminal damage. Each carries a maximum punishment of seven years in prison.

Police display evidence during a press briefing on the case of an alleged Telegram channel administrator charged with inciting members to criminal acts. Photo: Facebook

Court documents showed the alleged offences spanned from November 12 of last year to February 4, a time when the city was embroiled in social unrest.

Prosecutors said Ng incited others to cause a nuisance by unlawfully obstructing public places and interfering with traffic lights and the MTR’s train service.

Ng, who was arrested in Hung Hom on Wednesday, was also accused of inciting others to damage police vehicles and set the officers’ quarters on fire.