120 hours of community service for joyriding influencer

A 24-year-old internet celebrity was sentenced to 120 hours of community service at the Eastern Magistrates' Court yesterday for joyriding on top of light rail trains in Tuen Mun and climbing up a crane to watch the fireworks and sunset on New Year's Eve last year.

Tong Cheuk-yin, also a parkour coach, pleaded guilty to four charges - two counts of offense of willfully endangering safety, one count of prohibition of entry into restricted areas and another count of flying a drone in restricted flying zone without permission - which he breached on separate occasions.

The court was told that Tong committed the charge of prohibition of entry into restricted areas while kayaking on Shing Mun River without the permission of the director of marine on January 5.

He flew a drone in a restricted area without permission at a construction site in Tsim Sha Tsui on December 31 last year.

Another defendant, maintenance technician Lee Siu-hang, also 24, was sentenced to 80 hours of community service for admitting to two counts of willfully endangering safety with Tong, when they jumped on top of two light rail trains in Tuen Mun on December 22 last year - a behavior that may have endangered passengers on the trains or other people.

Magistrate Minnie Wat Lai-man found the two had regretted the crimes, but as adults, Tong and Lee should understand that "they should be careful with all actions, and especially careful to not endanger public safety."

Wat added: "As a parkour coach, Tong did not lead by example. Instead, he led others into committing crimes. He should understand his influence on others and be held responsible for his actions."

Their defense counsel Shirley Cornelia Hung said the pair acknowledged their actions to be reckless and that they were pursuing momentary thrills - disregarding the dangers of their actions to themselves and others.

Hung also said they are "passionate about their interests and they are kind," adding that the two had deeply reflected on their crimes, especially after Tong was remanded for two weeks and lost his freedom for the first time.

She said both Tong and Lee would be more careful with all their future actions.

lorraine.chiang@singtaonewscorp.com