Eight years for mechanic in deadly taxi tank blast

A mechanic who improperly repaired a taxi's fuel tank has been sentenced to eight years in jail for the manslaughter of three people in a Wong Tai Sin garage explosion five years ago.

Lai Chun-ho, 39, was unanimously found guilty by a seven-member jury in the High Court last month over the deaths of his employer, Wu Hon-wai, 47, taxi driver Chan Kam-por, 61, and a woman in a glass shop next door, Ng Oi-ha, 65, in the blast on April 26, 2015.

Passing sentence, Justice Judianna Barnes yesterday said the case was "shocking" as Lai knowingly used an illegal method to remove the taxi's LPG tank and let out the gas, which accumulated in the garage and the vehicle's ignition.

It is believed that a fan fell, creating sparks and causing the fatal explosion.

A requirement in repairing the LPG tank safely is for it to be placed outside the garage.

Another calls for a qualified person to fix or to monitor the process, which would involve more time and manpower.

Lai did not have the required license to repair the LPG tank. He also rolled down the garage's gate to hide his illegal behavior, Justice Barnes said.

But the employer was the biggest beneficiary of the wrongdoing as he provided a one-stop service by owning a garage and a taxi dealership, she said.

Justice Barnes believed that Lai was only following his boss' instructions since he did not have other personal interests in the illegal act while at the same time faced losing his job.

Lai also suffered serious injuries in the explosion and felt guilty that his family was put in a difficult situation, Justice Barnes said.

Lai had also used the same dangerous method in previous instances, giving him a false sense of security that he could handle it, she added.

Justice Barnes said Lai must take responsibility for the three deaths, adding those who use such deadly practices must "be severely punished."

But she accepted that Lai was under great pressure during the case, which took five years to close, so she reduced one year from the original sentence of nine years imprisonment because of the delay.

The husband of victim Ng said although justice has been served, he could never forgive Lai.

"The case is over, but to forgive him, it's impossible to do that," said the husband.

The couple was married for 50 years and had three children.

They had been granted permanent residency in the United States, and occasionally traveled there to see their sons.

"I have lost my partner, I feel meaningless in doing anything," the husband said.

He said the incident happened two days before he and his wife were supposed to fly to the United States. They were, in fact, packing things in their shop to prepare for the trip.

After leaving the shop to run an errand, there was a sudden loud explosion and he saw his shop catch fire, the husband said.

He said his wife was trapped inside and yelled for help but he could not get in to save her.

The court was told that taxi driver Chan brought his cab to Wu's garage on Wan Fung Street in Wong Tai Sin for repairs at 2pm.

Apart from the three who died in the blast, Lai was left in critical condition with burns on 35 percent of his skin. After staying in the hospital for two months, Lai was arrested in January 2016 after being told that he was able to work again.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com