7 HK police officers jailed over beating of protester
Print Edition
SEVEN Hong Kong police officers were jailed for two years yesterday for what the judge described as a “vicious” attack on a protester in 2014, captured on film and beamed around the world.
All seven were convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm to Ken Tsang, but were acquitted 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.
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 others were seen repeatedly kicking him.
It was “a vicious assault,” said judge David Dufton as he handed down sentencing at the city’s district court, adding that police officers who break the law “have to be made an example of.”
The maximum sentence for the lesser assault charges was three years.
“The multiplicity of the injuries and the damage to Hong Kong’s reputation ... make this a very serious case,” said Dufton, noting the incident had made international headlines.
Tsang, who was not in court yesterday, said the sentencing proved that ordinary people can “fight back” against police violence.
The court found that one officer had stamped on Tsang and hit him with a baton.
Four other officers kicked him while two other officers did not participate but watched.
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.
Dufton said that Tsang, now 41, was “most fortunate” not to have been more seriously injured. Some campaigners outside the court said they thought the sentencing was fair.
But incensed pro-police demonstrators said the officers had been unduly punished and that they would march in protest today.
“We want society and the judge to see how angry we are,” said Tang Tak-shing, chairman of a police support group.
The defence argued in mitigation that the officers had been under intense pressure during the protests, which they said had dented morale, with several police injured.
Defense lawyer Lawrence Lok attributed the assault to “human frailty.” Political analyst Joseph Chen said the sentencing showed the city’s legal system was still intact.
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