Conspiracy to make explosives hearing resumes as defence suspects insufficient evidence from police

The defence council of the five males, accused of secretly making explosives in the abandoned ATV studio suspected the prosecution has brought insufficient evidence to court, heard in High Court on Wednesday.

He questioned the sufficiency of evidence provided by the prosecution after cross-examining a CIB police officer who is the second witness.

The officer told the court that he has not kept any records in words about their operations, only with his memory and audio reports.

The prosecution refused to disclose how the oral report was recorded due to the risk of exposing confidential operation details in a public hearing when enquired by the defence.

The defence suspected the police for providing insufficient evidence to the court after the prosecution suggested that a cousin document of the audio reports is available.

The defence council doubted if  the two CIB police officers could make a mistake on recognising the defendants.

Defendants Chan Yiu-shing, 34, Cheng Wai-shing, 29, Pennelli Rizzy, 21, Wu Kai-fu, 21, Man Ting-lock, 23, was arrested after finding chemicals capable of producing explosives in former ATV premises in Sai Kung as police officers saw "yellowish white flashes" and smoke coming out from the building.

The second CIB police officer told the court that they have been briefed by their superior Sgt. Lo Ka-shing of four male and two female as their targets, through the fourth defendant Wu Kai-fu was not one of their targets.

"His [Wu's] name was not even known to the police before he was arrested," said the defence council of Wu, who also said it was a "chance encounter" for the police to have Wu arrested.

Previous hearings revealed that Man Ting-lock, the fifth defendant, pleaded guilty and admitted that he has joined an anti-government organisation, "National Independence Party". They were experimenting with smoke bombs aiming to cause chaos before and after the election directed against the police, according to previous hearings..

The case resumes before Mr. Justice Kevin Zervos tomorrow.

[ HCCC41/2016 ]