A 35-year-old man has been charged with four counts of making hoax bomb threats, two days after his arrest by the national security police.
Zhang Kejia, a Chinese national who claimed to be self-employed, appeared at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon. He was denied bail and will be remanded in custody, according to the charge sheet.
The defendant is accused of sending email messages to police on May 10 with the intention of inducing the force to believe that a bomb was present at or near the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong.
Zhang also stands accused of communicating information to two police communication officers on May 13 with the intention of inducing the police to believe that a bomb was present at Kai Tak Sports Park.
National Security Police Chief Superintendent Steve Li said on Tuesday that a 35-year-old man and four women aged 20 to 38 were arrested on Monday.
They are suspected of sending emails and calling 999 to make bomb threats in Hong Kong to promote the idea of Hong Kong independence and Taiwan independence.
The police found no bombs after searching relevant areas, including Kai Tak Sports Park.
Li said on Tuesday that the 35-year-old threw his mobile phone into the sea in Hung Hom after calling 999.
“Since the mobile phone is an important piece of evidence in the case, we have arranged for frogmen to search for the phone in the sea,” the chief superintendent also said.
Bomb hoax is an offence under the Public Order Ordinance. Conviction carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$150,000.
To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove that the defendant “knowingly communicated information he knew or believed to be false.”
