British tourist wanted after jumping bail over Hong Kong airport vandalism

A Hong Kong court has issued an arrest warrant for a British tourist who allegedly jumped bail after being charged with vandalising self-check-in kiosks at the city’s airport earlier this year.

Youcef Bennoui, 35, failed to appear at West Kowloon Court on Monday to answer charges of criminal damage and possession of a Part 1 poison in connection with the disturbance he allegedly caused at Hong Kong International Airport in the early hours of February 16.

Prosecutors told the court that Bennoui, who claimed to be unemployed, had left the city.

Principal Magistrate Don So Man-lung reserved his decision on whether to forfeit the defendant’s HK$5,000 (US$638) bail.

Man takes out his anger on Hong Kong airport kiosks

The British national was arrested after a viral video showed him toppling several self-check-in kiosks and repeatedly hitting them with a stanchion.