Seven Hong Kong policemen filmed taking turns to repeatedly kick and punch pro-democracy activist Ken Tsang Kin-chiu during the Occupy movement in 2014 were each jailed for two years, local government-owned broadcaster RTHK reported.
A custodial sentence was appropriate punishment because they had dishonored the police force and damaged Hong Kong’s reputation, Judge David Dufton said Friday in the District Court. The pressure placed on the officers from policing the street protests could not justify the defendants’ actions, he said.
Given this was their first offense of this nature, and in light of their years of service to the community, the sentences were reduced from the 2 ½ years that could be expected in similar cases, the judge said.
On Tuesday, the seven officers were found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm when they kicked and punched Tsang in a dark corner of Tamar Park in the early hours of October 15, 2014.
Read: Seven HK policemen found guilty for Occupy attack
Four of the officers are from the Kwun Tong District Anti-triad Squad. They are senior inspector Lau Cheuk-ngai, sergeant Pak Wing-bun, officer Lau Hing-pui and Wong Wai-ho. The other three include Triad and Organized Crime Bureau chief inspector Wong Cho-shing, Kowloon East Regional Crime Headquarters officer Chan Siu-tan and Kowloon City District officer Kwan Ka-ho.
Chan was also found guilty of common assault for slapping Tsang’s face inside Central Police Station and received a concurrent one-month term.
HK is known for its noisy streets demonstrations. Their commanding officers into the top policeman should also have been punished. The street protests were difficult to control but to kick a hand-cuffed person was abhorrent…this is not a 3rd world corrupt regime.
Hong Kong’s judiciary bench is still filled with Commonwealth British, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and local Chinese dual citizenshipm holders. Their allegiance to the PRC is suspect! It is time to purge them from Chinese soil.
No sovereign nation behaves quite like HK in retaining its colonial officers intact after almost 20 years of its retuern to Chinese sovereignty.
Truly shameful and disgusting!
Having half hearted officials running HK was the reason for the messes, like punishing policemen and letting law breakers getting light or no punishment. Police forces especially should not be lead by those working against the government or those whose sympathy are with the law breakers. Just look at how French security personnels took care of suspect in Paris Louvre museum, shoot first if the protester is dangerous. Only in HK protester throwing bricks at police get away with light sentence from sympathetic judge.