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Hong Kong: 100 hours of community service for aiming lasers at police

Kwok Fu-wah, 37
Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong


On January 1 2020, Kwok aimed laser beams at police vehicles and officers at a Hong Kong police station near his home.

The incident did not appear to be connected to protests against police which occurred in Hong Kong during 2019. Kwok Fu-wah was said to have aimed the lasers "out of impulse". The incident interfered with police duties but there were no injuries reported.

He was originally charged with possessing offensive weapons in a public place which is punishable by imprisonment. However, prosecutors allowed him to plead guilty to "a diminished charge of similar nature" resulting in a lesser sentence on July 23 2020 of 100 hours of community service. The principal magistrate noted Kwok had a good background and was sorry for his actions.

More on the case and the lasers involved here.

Scotland: Clydebank man aims laser at moving police car, gets 18+ months

Kevin Ayre, 30
Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland


On September 20 2017, Ayre was sentenced to 18 months in jail for aiming a green laser beam at a police car driving on Kirkton Avenue in Knightswood, Glasgow. On August 31 2017, he had admitted in court to culpably and recklessly, repeatedly pointing the laser pen at a moving police car causing the driver to become distracted and to the danger of the officers in the car. He also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving police false information when he was detained.

The laser incident occurred March 6 2016, at about 1:20 am. Officers in a marked car saw green light in their car. According to a prosecutor, “The rear windscreen was a dazzling green color. The sergeant who was driving felt distracted and alarmed and immediately stopped the vehicle on the road.”

The officers could tell the light came from the 13th floor of a 23-story apartment building, but could not determine exactly which apartment. Other offices arrived to help and eventually saw a man with an object emitting a bright green light in one of the windows. Ayre was arrested in the apartment. He gave police a false name of “Kriss Ayre” and a false birthdate.

During interrogation at the police station, he acknowledged using the laser and giving false information.

He later was arrested for other crimes, including stalking a woman while on bail for the laser offense, throwing glass bottles onto a sidewalk, and skipping a December 2016 court appearance.

For the stalking and glass-throwing incidents, on October 6 2017 Ayre was given an extra 130 days, to be served after his 18 month sentence from Glasgow Sheriff Court is up.

From the Clydebank Post, Evening Times and Planet Radio.com

US: 6 months home confinement, 5 years probation, 500 hours community service

Joseph Aquino, 32
Warwick, Rhode Island, US

On September 15 2010, Aquino aimed a green laser at a boat, car, and commercial airliner. Prosecutors asked for two years in prison. He was sentenced September 12 2011. In addition to the above penalties, Aquino must undergo mental health counseling and submit to 72 drug tests each year.