Teen convicted of conspiracy to attack Jimmy Sham

A 16-year-old boy was convicted of conspiracy to wound Civil Human Rights Front convener Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit.

Ho Lik-wun, who earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge, was convicted today by District Court Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng of conspiracy to wound and getting hold of a car without authority.

On August 29 last year, Ho drove two South Asians armed with a baseball bat and a cleaver to the Via Restaurant on Tak Hing Street in Jordan, where Sham was having lunch with his friends. The two attackers rushed into the restaurant, attacked Sham and fled in the same car, which was driven by Ho.

Chan said although Ho was not in the restaurant when the assault happened, the two attackers had prepared and put on balaclavas while inside the car, adding that he believed Ho must have known about the planned attack.

The court heard that Ho tailed Sham and reported the activist’s location to his codefendant, 29-year-old salesman Lo Kin-wa, through WeChat. He also said “this is a good place” when reporting Sham’s whereabouts to Lo, indicating that he was also looking for a suitable place for the assault.

Chan said there was an agreement between the two defendants, as Ho received a HK$3,000 reward from Lo.

Chan also said the private car involved in the case was a stolen vehicle, and that the number plate used by the criminals originally belonged to another private car of the same model, which showed that the assault on Sham was planned and arranged carefully.

He said there was a conspiracy with intent to cause serious bodily injury to Sham, and Ho was one of the conspirators.

As for the charge of getting hold of a car illegally, Chan said the lock of the car had been destroyed, so Ho must have known the vehicle had been stolen.

The defense pleaded that Ho was only 15 when he committed the crime and was used by adults, and that was Ho’s first offense, so he was not aware of the seriousness of the crime.

But Chan refuted the claim, saying Ho’s performance during the police interview showed he was not ignorant.

Earlier, Ho had pleaded guilty to driving without a license and without third party insurance. But he pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to wound and getting hold of a car illegally.

Lo had earlier pleaded guilty to three charges -- conspiracy to wound, using a car without authorization and driving without a third party license.

Lo also told the court on July 29 that an unnamed person from Tuen Mun was offering HK$2 million for a hitman to break Sham's leg.

Chan adjourned the case to September 16 for mitigation and will ask for Ho’s report from the rehabilitation center and detention center during the period. But he will not consider a probation order, as the case was a serious crime. Ho is remanded in custody pending the next appearance.