Police escort a hooded suspect back to the scene of an acid attack in Hong Kong yesterday. A bottle (inserted) is held outside an opening of an apartment block as the police try to reenact the scene of the acid attack in Causeway Bay in December. Edmond Tang

Despite strong evidence, motive for street assault still unknown

HONG KONG: A 23-year-old man arrested on Wednesday for allegedly pouring acid at pedestrians in Causeway Bay in December yesterday was charged with throwing corrosive acid with the intent to injure. He will appear in court today. Police, however, believes he was not connected with other acid assaults the city has suffered in the past two years.

Police said yesterday they had enough evidence to charge the man in connection with the Causeway Bay incident. Yu Tat-chung, senior superintendent of Hong Kong Island Regional Crime, made the comments after the suspect was taken to Causeway Bay yesterday morning to reenact the crime.

"We have brought back the suspect to do a re-enactment to enhance our evidence," Yu said.

From evidence gathered from previous investigations, added to what the suspect told police during interviews so far and "a large amount of evidence" found in the suspect's home, "we have grounds to believe he was responsible for the offense," Yu said.

The motivate for the crime remains unclear. "The suspect hasn't told police his motive," Yu said.

As for an 18-year-old man arrested together with the 23-year-old on Wednesday, Yu said that man has been released on police bail but that the investigation is ongoing.

Yu said the evidence police gathered so far showed the suspect appeared to be acting on his own.

Investigating officers into similar attacks will continue to press their efforts until the culprits are caught, he said. Patrols and observation posts have been enhanced in all busy areas of Hong Kong to protect the public, he added.

"The detection of this case once again proved the police have the ability and confidence to investigate this type of case and arrest the culprit," Yu said. "I want to emphasize throwing corrosive liquid with the intent to injure a person is a very serious offense. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is life in prison."

The Causeway Bay attack occurred December 12 when two bottles of corrosive were dropped from an old building on Lockhart Road onto the pedestrianized section underneath. Six people were injured, including two seriously.

The incident took place on the eve of the anniversary of the first acid attack in Mong Kok on December 13, 2008. Eleven cases of acid dropped from highrises have been reported since the first attack. Injuries have exceeded 130.

The latest was the attack at Temple Street night market on Saturday. Six of the thirty injured were tourists.

According to the Chinese newspaper Apple Daily, the 23-year-old suspect, surnamed Lo, is the lover of the 18-year-old, surnamed Law. The police started to suspect Lo when reviewing some 70 pieces of surveillance camera footage they gathered. Lo was seen carrying a black paper shopping bag bearing the logo of shoe outlet "Staccato", which was found at the crime scene. Through comparing the video image and ID card photos, police identified Lo and followed him for more than two weeks. The decision to make the arrest came after the Temple Street attack on Saturday, when Lo was elsewhere.

In the reenactment yesterday, the suspect carried a bag bearing the logo "Staccato" when he was escorted into the building where the acid was tossed. But Yu would not give specifics on how the crime was detected, saying only police have pieced together information they gathered bit by bit.

The arrest of the first acid assailant has been one of the most closely watched stories in Hong Kong. People in Causeway Bay in the area near where the attacks took place said they felt encouraged by the progress though other culprits may remain at large.

"At least we know police are not totally powerless against acid attacks. I think the arrest will deter similar offenses," said Chung Man-Hoi, a Form 5 student living in Mong Kok.

May Tsui, who works in a snack shop on the Temple Street, said shop operators in the area have all joined force to take part in a vigilance program known as "the Golden One Minute".

The Golden One Minute refers to the first minute after acid is splashed. Within the period, participants of the program are supposed to dash to buildings where the acid was thrown, guard the exits and take photos of people exiting. Effectiveness of the tactic may be unclear. "But the acid assailant should know he won't get away easily," she said.

(HK Edition 01/15/2010 page1)