HONG KONG: A teenager who built a bomb with plans he downloaded from the Internet, and then gave some of the proceeds of his work to friends, was given a probationary term of 18 months yesterday.

Magistrate Denis Lau said the sentence is intended to serve as a warning, not only to the Form Two student, who cannot be named, but other young people.

One of the youths who was given the explosive detonated the device, burning his fingers badly.

Magistrate Lau said he hopes the 14-year-old boy has learned a lesson and will not repeat this kind of wrongdoing.

Lau also urged him not to take any action to test the legal authority again.

The boy pleaded guilty last month before the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts to one count of making an explosive substance.

The court earlier heard that the defendant learned how to make the explosive, known as triacetone triperoxide, online and gave it to two classmates.

One of the pupils was injured in March this year when he ignited the powder.

Some 19 grams of triacetone triperoxide were later found in the defendant's home.

The judge said the boy likes experimenting and has a poor judgment regarding taking safety precautions.

He noted a point in a psychologist's report that stated the teenager once deliberately went through a border checkpoint carrying an explosive powder in order to test the sensitivity of the security devices there.

The judge warned that the boy's act is a criminal offence both in Hong Kong and on the mainland.

The defense counsel said the boy felt remorseful about the injury to the victim and has now directed his interest toward mechanics.

He said the only problem the boy has is "over-curiosity" but the youth has agreed not to acquire explosives again.

The lawyer said the boy also pledged not to carry out any experiment without teachers' supervision again.

He cited a probation officer's report saying that it is unnecessary to impose a probation order on the boy but a care and protection order is recommended.

The judge said the parents of the dyslexic boy are supportive and caring, but "a bit overprotective".

He said given the seriousness of the offense and the boy's background, he said the most lenient sentence he can pass is 18 months' probation.

The judge also ordered the youth to observe an 8 pm to 6 am curfew unless accompanied by his parents or given permission by his probation officer.

China Daily

(HK Edition 10/16/2009 page1)