- Police opened fire at one point in the chase, which allegedly followed a robbery and theft of a car
- A large group of supporters, including family and social workers, turned up to no avail as group was sent to jail to await further investigation
Four young Hong Kong men arrested on Friday following a high-speed car chase that led police to open fire have been denied bail and sent to jail to await further investigation on charges of robbery and dangerous driving.
The group's first appearance at Sha Tin Court on Monday drew dozens of supporters, including family members, social workers and schoolteachers, who took alternating seats in the small courtroom as required by the judiciary's social distancing measures amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The four defendants have been identified as Chan Kui-yiu, 18, car wash worker Lo Suet-ho, 27; and students Lai Wing-san, 17, and Wong Tsz-lok, 16.
All have been charged with one joint count of robbery, an offence punishable by life imprisonment.
Prosecutors alleged the four men robbed Cheng Kwan of HK$1,000 and his car at Ha Pak Nai in Lau Fau Shan on April 3.
Chan faces an additional three charges: allegedly driving Cheng's car dangerously, doing so without a licence, and doing so without third-party insurance.
None of the defendants were required to enter a plea as prosecutors said they needed time to investigate the case and conduct identification parades.
All except Lo applied for bail but their applications were refused upon the prosecution's request.
Acting principal magistrate Daniel Tang Siu-hung adjourned the case to April 6 at Fanling Court.
Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.