Bail refused for bomb-linked student mechanic

A 20-year-old student arrested for having made a device that could be used to control home-made bombs remotely was yesterday denied bail at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts.

Police have linked him to a home-made bomb that officers found outside Wah Yan College in Wan Chai in December.

Choi Hoi-ming was charged with one count of conspiracy to wound with intent and another of possessing child pornography.

No plea was taken from Choi, a mechanics student at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, and he was remanded in custody until July 2.

Choi was arrested on Tuesday night during a raid on his home at Sau Mau Ping Estate in Kwun Tong, where circuit boards, tools for manufacturing electronic devices and nails were allegedly found.

He is said to have conspired with seven others to wound police.

The alleged coconspirators were also linked to a case in which police seized a pistol and ammunition.

The prosecution also charged Choi with child pornography over 150 photographs and seven videos relating to child pornography on his phone.

The court heard that Choi had confessed to police about devices at his home, but his lawyer said the electronic parts were for academic needs.

He also sought bail for Choi, but that was rejected by acting principal magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei after the prosecution argued that police could not rule out him being in contact with suspects at large.

The hearing came as a 21-year-old student involved in a Kwai Chung police station Molotov cocktail case was granted bail yesterday after the arrest of a police sergeant for perverting the course of justice.

Lam Wai-ho, who is also a student at the institute, was charged with possession of offensive weapons and denied bail earlier.

Principal West Kowloon magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen freed Lam on HK$20,000 bail until his next appearance on June 11.

Lam was arrested near Kwai Chung police station on April 13 after police allegedly found him with two Molotov cocktails.