An alleged core member of the “Dragon Slaying Brigade” has accused Hong Kong police of using threats to force him into giving false statements after his arrest over a thwarted bomb plot targeting officers during the anti-government protests in 2019.
Christian Lee Ka-tin told the High Court on Tuesday that following his arrest in 2020, some officers had instructed him to give false evidence against other suspects believed to have tested firearms and explosives in preparation for the planting of two bombs in Wan Chai on December 8, 2019.
Lee and five other defendants – Cheung Chun-fu, Cheung Ming-yu, Yim Man-him, Lai Chun-pong and Justin Hui Cham-wing – have denied involvement in the plot.
Brigade leader turned prosecution witness Wong Chun-keung earlier told the court that Lee possessed a firearm he had taken from Ng Chi-hung, the head of another team, after testing some guns and explosives in a suburb during November of that year.
While being questioned by his lawyer Priscilia Lam Tsz-ying, Lee said: “The part where I mentioned how we tested the explosives was made up. I did that because I wanted to satisfy police.”
The defendant also alleged that many of his answers in police statements from June 2020 were prepared by officers, who threatened him into giving the remarks during interrogation.
Lee told the court that Station Sergeant Fung Po-law, who apprehended the defendant at his home and brought him to the police station, forced him to say he possessed firearms, while other members of Fung’s team told him to memorise ballistic terminology and the names of some defendants for interviews with officers.
Lee said he complied because he was scared of being waterboarded or violently interrogated after he was allegedly abused following his arrest.
The police sergeant threatened to harm him and his mother, Lee alleged.
“[Fung] pulled out his service weapon and put it in my hand, and said he could use it to kill me as he could accuse me of attempting to grab his gun,” he added.
The defendant claimed that another officer had grabbed his hair and pulled his head back, before using a wet towel and shower head to waterboard him.
“The feeling was like drowning, I could not breathe and I felt like I’d almost die from asphyxiation,” Lee said.
The court heard that Lee was reluctant to take part in the brigade’s activities and frequently made excuses to avoid joining group meetings, and therefore had little to no knowledge of the bomb plot.
Lee said he sent joking messages on the group’s Telegram channel to change the subject when serious topics came up and to evade Wong’s requests to join meetings.
Asked why he had not directly refused Wong’s requests, he said: “Because Wong had financially supported me and sometimes bought me dinner. I did not want to lose this financial backer.”
Lee will continue to give evidence on Wednesday.
