Mechanic jailed for deadly Wong Tai Sin garage blast

A 39-year-old mechanic has been sentenced to eight years in prison over the 2015 garage explosion in Wong Tai Sin that killed three people, RTHK reports.

Lai Chun-ho He was found guilty of three counts of manslaughter and of gross negligence unanimously by a seven-member jury.

The High Court heard that Lai didn’t have the licence to repair a taxi’s LPG tank and had failed to ensure there would be no leakage or accumulation of the gas in the area and prevent its ignition.

His employer, a taxi driver and a woman next store were killed in the blast that occurred on April 26, four years ago.

Passing the sentence, judge Judianna Barnes said the case was “shocking” as the defendant knowingly used an illegal way to remove the tank and let the gas out.

She said the garage’s shutter was almost closed to cover the illegal act, which also led to an increase in concentration of the LPG gas there.

While she accepted that the defendant was only following his employer’s order and he didn’t benefit from it, the judge said Lai still has to shoulder the responsibility.

Barnes said the court needs to send a clear message to the society that repair work by unqualified people could be dangerous and deadly and those who broke the law must be given a heavy sentence.

She deducted Lai’s sentence for a year to eight because of the delay in trial as the court awaited higher courts to address the legal elements of gross negligence causing manslaughter in another case.

After hearing the sentence, Lai and his family members, including his wife, burst into tears.

“Take care of yourself,” said his mum. “I will wait for you.”