Seven individuals brought to court over the 2020 bomb plots have been unanimously found not guilty of conspiracy to commit bombing of prescribed objects by a High Court jury.
However, three of the defendants were found guilty of an alternative count of conspiracy to cause explosion.
The jury, which consisted of seven women and two men, returned the verdict this afternoon to conclude around 160 days' trial implicating eight defendants, after closed-door deliberations began on Monday morning.
The seven defendants, Ho Cheuk-wai, Lee Ka-pan, Ng Tsz-lok, Cheung Ka-chun, Yeung Yi-sze, Cheung Cheuk-ki, and Ho Pui-yan were acquitted of a joint count of conspiracy to commit bombing of prescribed objects between November 2019 and March 2020. The group could be jailed for life if convicted of this charge under the city’s United Nations anti-terrorism law.
Three of the defendants -- Ho Cheuk-wai, Lee Ka-pan, and Cheung Ka-chun -- were found guilty of conspiracy to cause an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
They are facing up to 20 years behind bars under colonial-era legislation. They will be sentenced on October 10.
Meanwhile, an eighth defendant, surveyor Chow Ho-man, was cleared of attempting to make an explosive in a Kowloon Bay flat in March 2020.
Lee, the decoration worker, was separately acquitted of doing an act intended to pervert the course of public justice.
National Security Department Superintendent Cheung Pak-kit stated that the bomb plots involved a local violent group called "92 Sign" which carried out bombings at Caritas Medical Centre and Lo Wu Station.
Cheung also mentioned that the group planned to place a 20-kilogram bomb at a social event in Tseung Kwan O, which was expected to have 500 attendees, in March 2020.
He highlighted that the police identified the threat and made arrests in advance, effectively preventing a potential tragedy.
Regarding the acquittal of five defendants in the case, Cheung stated that the police would consult with the Department of Justice on relevant legal issues.
