Hong Kong court jails ex-saleswoman for 5 years and 1 month over possessing bombs, role in failed attempt to flee to Taiwan
- Quinn Moon, 37, earlier pleaded guilty to keeping a pipe bomb, as well as making smoke grenades with tennis balls, at her rented flat in Mong Kok
- Judge slams Quinn’s attempt to flee to Taiwan with 11 others as evading legal liabilities
Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi earlier convicted 37-year-old Quinn Moon, who pleaded guilty to keeping a pipe bomb at her rented flat in Mong Kok, as well as making smoke grenades with tennis balls.
While Chan on Tuesday accepted Quinn’s mitigation that suggested her “radical act” was heavily influenced by her peers and boyfriend at the time when society was rocked by political upheaval, he slammed her involvement in a plan to flee the city with 11 others to Taiwan as evading legal responsibilities.
“She did not just find ways to abscond by herself, but she indeed took a role in liaising with [counterparts] in Taiwan, preparing and coordinating a plan that drew those involved in criminal cases into this great escape,” the judge said. “If they managed to escape, it would have been an insult to the rule of law.”
The 12 fugitives were caught in mainland Chinese waters while en route to the self-ruled island via speedboat on August 23, 2020.