7 suspects deny charges over plot to kill Hong Kong police officers in 2019
- Six male defendants plead not guilty to charge of bombing, while one female suspect denies role in providing or collecting property to commit terrorist acts
- Group is said to have committed the offences in Hong Kong between August 1 and December 9 of 2019
Seven people linked to an alleged plot to bomb key targets and kill police officers in Hong Kong five years ago have denied charges stemming from an anti-terrorist law.
A nine-member jury was sworn in on Monday at the High Court to hear the 60-day trial of the six men and one woman prosecuted under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance.
The six male defendants – Cheung Chun-fu, Cheung Ming-yu, Yim Man-him, Christian Lee Ka-tin, Lai Chun-pong and Justin Hui Cham-wing – pleaded not guilty to a joint conspiracy charge of bombing prescribed objects.
The indictment said they conspired with at least seven others to “unlawfully and intentionally deliver, place or detonate two explosive devices” in a bid to “cause death or serious bodily injury to any person”.
Lau Pui-ying, the only woman of the seven, denied a conspiracy charge of providing or collecting property to commit terrorist acts.
The court also recorded a not guilty plea from the six men on charges of a conspiracy to murder, as well as conspiracy to cause explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or to cause serious injury to property, which serves as an alternative charge to the terrorism offence.