A 31-year-old man denied a charge of threatening to destroy or damage Admiralty Station in messages sent through the online game League of Legends. The case was heard at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on 9 October.
The charge alleged that he sent the messages on 27 January, threatening that the station would be bombed on 17 February and intending to make others fear the threat would be carried out. The messages included, in translation, “I’m preparing to bomb the MTR on New Year’s Day”, the station’s name and “Remember to watch the news”.
Testifying in his defence, the man said another player taunted him in the game, including by circling over his defeated character and sending mocking images. He said he sent the three messages while upset, as emotional venting, and did not intend to threaten anyone or carry out the threat.
The prosecution argued that the messages were meant to frighten the other players. It said naming a busy station would make them more afraid, and pointed to the 12- and 31-second gaps between messages as evidence that they had been considered.
The court adjourned the case until 30 October for a verdict.