Brigade Accused of Being Terrorists used Funds Destined for Explosives on Gambling
During Hong Kong's anti-government protests in 2019, the leader of a harsh faction of pro-Democracy demonstrators, Wong Chun-keung, who was once a part of the "Dragon Slaying Brigade," admitted that he gambled away HK$300,000 (US$38,000) which he was meant to spend on bombs and weapons.
Formerly the leader of the violent "Dragon Slaying Brigade," Wong had plotted to unleash firearms and explosives against law enforcement officers during the peak of these demonstrations.
Commit Murder
Having turned on his former comrades, Wong now testifies in court seeking a reduced sentence for his cooperation. When asked about the funding, he answered that he had amassed the HK$300,000 through a Telegram channel where he assured donors that he'd use their money to "kill as many police officers as possible." He also claimed that the money would help him escape to Taiwan after fulfilling his promise.
However, he told the Hong Kong High Court that instead of purchasing weapons, he squandered the money on soccer bets to serve as a distraction.
"At that time, there were many donations coming in. I used about HK$300,000 of the donations for gambling. For me, it was a way to release stress," Wong said as reported by The South China Morning Post. "It wasn't a good approach, but this is what I was thinking then."
Bomb Charges
In February, Wong confessed to conspiring to plant two bombs in the busy Wan Chai district of Hong Kong on December 8, 2019, as well as one count of conspiring to provide or collect property for terrorist activities. Six male defendants and one female have denied these allegations and await trial in Hong Kong's High Court.
Wong alleged he was the only person within the "Dragon Slaying Brigade" to handle the finances and that his fellow group members were unaware of his gambling habit.
A Time Of Violence
The Hong Kong government faced widespread protests in 2019 and 2020 when it proposed a bill that would permit local authorities to extradite "criminals" to mainland China without legislative control. Fearing this would hinder Hong Kong's autonomy and put critics of the Chinese mainland at risk of political reprisals, protestors took to the streets.
The "Dragon Slaying Brigade" earned notoriety as "the most violent" of these activists' groups. Inspired by their target, the Hong Kong Police Force's specialized riot squad, "the Raptors," the brigade aimed to physically harm law enforcement officers.
Wong, who desired to kill officers, defended his actions by stating he never intended to harm bystanders. Additionally, he claims he was brutally beaten by police after his arrest.
Wong has denied inflating the roles of his co-defendants in an attempt to secure a lighter sentence for himself under cross-examination. The trial persists.
Read also:
- Leipzig battles for top attacker Sesko.
- Fortuna determines to face relegation head-on.
- The insanely adventurous cycling route in Germany poses growing risks.
- Söder explores Rome with selfies.
Source: www.casino.org
