Social News
Written by: Lu Leqian
2021-03-31 15:44
The last update date: 2021-03-31 15:44
In August of the previous year, some netizens initiated a demonstration at the airport, which turned into a conflict. Among them, four people who were convicted of the incident on that day were sentenced in the District Court today (31st).
Judge Guo Qi'an said that he would not make any rulings on the political factors behind the case, but clearly stated that no one would be allowed to violate the law with violence, and that the police officers involved in the incident were surrounded and shot by an outnumbered crowd.
Guo Guan bluntly said that public officials have always been ungracious on duty, and the court will not sympathize with those who participated in the assault on the police. In the end, the two who admitted to the riot were sentenced to 45 months in jail. The other two defendants were found guilty of unlawful assembly after trial. Each imprisoned for 13 months.
The four defendants: Yau Wenjin (32 years old, assistant to district councillors) and MTR mechanic Ye Manliang (25 years old) have previously admitted that they were on the eighth floor of Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 (non-restricted area) on August 13, 2019 Participated in the riot in area 2; in addition, chef Gao Yingkang (25 years old) and cleaner Mai Xingxiong (24 years old) denied that they were outside the departure hall on the 8th floor of the Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 from August 13 to 14, 2019 Changhang Road participated in the illegal assembly.
Gao and Mai were convicted after interrogation earlier, and the four adjourned their sentences today.
The first defendant Qiu Wenjin (wearing a mask) was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison for the riot.
(Profile picture)
Qiu said that police officers used violence against citizens
The first defendant, Qiu Wenjin, pleaded that he was an assistant to a district councillor at the time of the incident, and originally intended to participate in peaceful demonstrations and had no intention of using violence. However, at the time of the incident, he saw a police officer following a female passerby, wishing he thought the police officer was violent against the public. Assaulted the police officer on impulse. His behavior was short-lived and the police officer was not seriously injured.
The defendant suffers from depression and other illnesses and fluctuates easily
The defendant, Ye Wenliang, claimed that he suffered from depression, Aristotle's disease and hyperactivity, and quoted a doctor’s letter stating that the defendant was prone to fluctuating emotions, acted recklessly, self-centered, and did not understand the feelings of others. The crime was committed on impulse and using the wrong method. Now I deeply regret it and ask the court for a light sentence.
The third and fourth defendants have nothing to do with the riots and the assault on the police
The third and fourth defendants who were convicted of illegal assembly submitted multiple letters of plea to prove their good character. They also alleged that they did not intend to participate in the illegal assembly outside the airport, and the incident was also related to the riots of the first and second defendants. It has nothing to do with the assault on the police.
A large number of demonstrators gathered at the airport on August 13, 2019, which later turned into conflict. (See the picture below for details)
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Outnumbered police officers need to be stopped
When sentencing Judge Guo Qi'an, he said that the case occurred during the anti-amendment incident in 2019, but the court will not make any rulings on the political opinions or political factors behind the incident. He also stated that the law does not allow illegal or violent acts to sabotage or interfere.
Guo Guan continued that the demonstrators at the scene of the crime surrounded police officers and police cars and used violence, describing that the police officer injured in the case accidentally pushed the woman down and wanted to support her, but was surrounded and beaten by ten people including the first and second defendants. During the period, the police officers used one enemy to ten, and the outnumbered finally needed to hold their guns to stop the demonstrators, saying that if the police officers were not equipped with protection, they would surely be battered.
Obstruction of airport operations affects reputation
Guo Guan also cited cases as saying that public officials are always unkind during their duties, so the court will not sympathize with those who participated in the attack. In addition, the operation of the airport was hindered in the incident and its reputation was damaged, which will inevitably reduce the desire of tourists to visit Hong Kong. , More serious than the riots that took place on the streets.
The third and fourth defendants acted provocatively
Regarding the third and fourth defendants, Guo Guan pointed out that although they were involved in different behaviors at different times, their behaviors were in the same line, and they were both extremely insulting and provocative; they were afraid of hitting the police car, blocking the police car from leaving, and throwing water bottles. Etc., it heated up the mood at the scene, inspired others to destroy the social peace, stirred up the emotions of those present, and led to the subsequent assault on the police. Therefore, it is necessary to be responsible for the actions of all people who participated in the riot that day.
There is no evidence to support the fourth defendant being attacked
In the end, Guo Guan used five years as the starting point for sentencing for the first and second defendants; the starting point for sentencing for the third and fourth defendants was set as one year.
Taking into account that the first and second defendants pleaded guilty before the trial, a quarter of the sentence was deducted and the two were sentenced to 45 months in prison.
Regarding the fourth defendant’s complaint about being assaulted by the police officer, Guo Guan said that the fourth defendant’s injuries were not serious and that he did not appear in court to defend himself. When the police officer was cross-examined, he also denied that he had assaulted the defendant. Therefore, the court did not have any evidence to support the defendant. For the attacked statement, the sentence will not be reduced. Considering the location of the crime and the pleadings of the two, the sentence will be increased by one month, and the two will be sentenced to 13 months in prison.
Case No.: DCCC 814/2019, 27-28/2020
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