Hong Kong police guilty over attack on democracy protester
HONG KONG: Seven Hong Kong police officers were found guilty yesterday of assaulting a protester during pro- democracy rallies in 2014, in an attack that was captured on film and beamed around the world.
All seven were found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm to Civic Party activist Ken Tsang, but were found not guilty of a more serious charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.
Video footage of the attack, filmed by a local network near the city’s government headquarters, shocked residents and dented their faith in the usually trusted police fore.
It showed a group of men hauling a handcuffed Tsang to a dark corner in a public park, where he was beaten. One man stood over him inflicting blows while three others were seen repeatedly kicking him.
Police have been criticised for their sometimes heavy-handed treatment of protesters during the 79 days of rallies and street blockades which brought parts of the city to a standstill.
The demonstrators were seeking fully free elections for Hong Kong’s future leaders.
Hong Kong’s district court found that one officer had stamped on 41-year- old Tsang and that four other officers kicked him. Two other officers did not participate but watched.
“Every police officer has a duty to prevent the commission of a crime, even by fellow police officers,” judge David Dufton said in a press summary of the verdict.
It added that Tsang suffered injuries to his face, neck and body during the assault.
“The court was not however satisfied these injuries amounted to grievous bodily harm but was satisfied they amounted to actual bodily harm,” the press statement said.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years.
One of the officers who kicked Tsang was also found guilty of common assault for slapping him in the face twice after he was taken to a police station.
Following the verdict, a lawyer for the defence said in mitigation that the protests had dented police morale, with a number of officers injured.
“Human frailty resulted in the transgression of seven devoted police officers,” Lawrence Lok told the court.
He said defendant Wong Choshing, one of those who watched the attack, had worked long hours during the protests and faced physical and verbal abuse from demonstrators.
Tsang, a social worker, was himself was found guilty last year of assaulting and resisting officers on the same night, when he splashed an unspecified liquid on police. He was given a five-week sentence and has said he will appeal.
Tsang was not in court for yesterday’s verdict. He has always argued that police brought assault charges against him to distract from the case against them.
Mitigation continued yesterday afternoon and sentencing will follow. The officers will be remanded in custody in the meantime. — AFP
Every police officer has a duty to prevent the commission of a crime, even by fellow police officers. David Dufton, judge