Hong Kong court confiscates HK$674,860 from 3 defendants in terrorism trial
High Court declares money raised by ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ constituted terrorist property under ordinance
A Hong Kong court has ordered the confiscation of more than HK$674,000 (US$86,000) seized from three defendants in a landmark terrorism trial, finding the funds were raised to finance a plot to kill police during the 2019 anti-government protests.
The High Court on Monday declared the money raised by the “Dragon Slaying Brigade” constituted terrorist property under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance, the first such order since the law came into effect in 2002.
Under the plan, the conspirators would vandalise shops seen as pro-government to draw police onto the street, before detonating a bomb packed with 2kg (4.4lbs) of explosives near a petrol station on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai.
A sniper would then ambush retreating officers while another would set off a larger bomb containing 8kg of explosives and 150 nails. The objective was to steal officers’ handguns in preparation for further conflict with authorities.
A financial investigation found the conspirators had raised more than HK$4 million through various channels, with HK$2.27 million gathered after opening a Telegram channel called “Dragonteam2019” on November 6, 2019.