Turns out the guy who, driving a pink Toyota iQ with the personalized number plate “1CE BABY”, injured six people in a hit and run last year wasn’t exactly an upstanding citizen.
The 39-year-old, who left a trail of carnage in his wake in October last year, was sentenced to two years in jail at court this morning after pleading guilty to several offences related to the incident.
At court, it emerged the defendant Yiu Kwok-kei had a long criminal record, with more than 50 offences.
Now added to that are a few more.
Namely, dangerous driving, dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, driving without a license, driving without third-party insurance, and driving an unlicensed vehicle.
The court heard that Yiu, in fact, had never learned to drive.
This appears to be relevant information. During his wayward trip through Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei in October, Yiu hit a double decker bus, a minibus, and six people, including a 6-year-old girl.
He was caught on dash cam stopping the car near the Yau Ma Tei fruit market, and then running off and trying to hide in a hotel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0dpFkmNZyE
It is not clear from media reports who the owner of the car is, although local media outlets reported at the time that the vehicle was registered under a female with the last name Chan.
Although the car was technically insured under a valid policy, it was considered an unlicensed vehicle in this case as Yiu admitted he could not drive and did not own a driver’s license.
In mitigation, a defense lawyer said Yiu was a scaffolding worker who earns a monthly income of HK$20,000 (US$2,550), is unmarried, but has a 3-year-old daughter with his girlfriend.
The defense team presented to Judge Johnny Chan a letter written by Yiu, explaining that on the day of the incident, he heard his daughter had fallen over and he was rushing home. That mad dash home was what resulted in the hit-and-run that day, he claimed.
But according to Headling Daily, Chan did not buy the explanation.
“I don’t believe it. Even if it were true, that’s not an excuse to drive dangerously,” he said.
The judge also added that although no one was killed, the case was very serious given that Yiu did not have a driver’s license, never learnt to drive, ignored all road instructions, drove through red lights, and injured six people along the way.
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