Three men were sentenced to lengthy prison terms Monday by a Hong Kong court for their roles in a series of bomb plots linked to the city’s 2019–2020 pro-democracy unrest, with the judge citing public safety and deterrence as key factors in the ruling.

Lukas Ho, 41, identified as the ringleader, received 18 years for orchestrating a homemade explosive that detonated in a hospital restroom in January 2020, along with two additional devices discovered at a railway station the following month. Though no injuries occurred, prosecutors said the attacks were intended to pressure authorities into closing borders during the early spread of COVID-19 from mainland China.

Co-defendants Lee Ka-pan and Cheung Ka Chun were each sentenced to 16 years and eight months, with the court granting slight reductions due to their status as first-time offenders.

Judge Johnny Chan described Ho as having an “inflated ego” and showing “no remorse,” emphasizing deterrence over rehabilitation. “Superficial regret offers no basis for leniency,” Chan said. The trio remained composed during sentencing, exchanging smiles with supporters before being escorted from the courtroom.

The convictions stem from charges related to the broader protest movement that swept Hong Kong in 2019, when millions took to the streets demanding democratic reforms and police accountability. Five other defendants in the same case were acquitted last month.

The bombings occurred during a volatile period marked by civil unrest and the onset of the pandemic, with public anxiety over imported cases fueling calls for border closures. Authorities said the plots posed a serious threat to public order.

Since the implementation of the national security law in 2020, Hong Kong has prosecuted hundreds of individuals for protest-related activities, drawing criticism from international observers who say the crackdown undermines civil liberties. Officials maintain the measures are necessary to preserve stability in the global financial hub.