Hong Kong protests: Court of Appeal rules magistrate made mistake when ordering probation for girl found with petrol bomb materials
- Appeal judges find Magistrate Kelly Shui should have called for reports to assess sentencing options
- Shui originally sentenced 16-year-old to 12 months’ probation after the girl was found with firebomb materials during last year’s protests
The Court of Appeal on Wednesday concluded that a magistrate had erred in giving a teenage girl probation for possessing the raw materials for making petrol bombs amid Hong Kong’s social unrest last year, after prosecutors applied for a review of sentence.
But the three judges rejected prosecutors’ demand for the 16-year-old student to be placed in a rehabilitation centre, instead calling for reports to see if she was suitable for community service and adjourning the case until October 13.
The girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, was sentenced to 12 months’ probation by Magistrate Kelly Shui in June, following her guilty plea to one count of possession of an instrument fit for unlawful purpose, an offence punishable by two years in prison and a HK$5,000 fine.
She was found to be carrying a paper bag, which contained a glass bottle, antiseptic solution, lighter fluid, a towel and some white powder wrapped in tin foil.
She later admitted that she had wanted to use those items to make a petrol bomb – following instructions on the encrypted messaging service Telegram – out of “fun”, and to test the finished product by the riverside.
