5 men convicted in Sham Shui Po, jailed for 4 to 6 months, and rehabilitated center officer's message

Some demonstrators assembled in Sham Shui Po on the night of August last year. Many people were arrested and charged with illegal assembly. One of the waiters pleaded guilty earlier, and the other four defendants were convicted after trial.

The judge emphasized in his sentencing in the District Court today (7th) that the ethos of disrupting social peace cannot last long, and finally sentenced the waiter who pleaded guilty to 4 months in prison, and the other four defendants were sentenced to 6 months in prison or entered a rehabilitation center. All the defendants, there are many people who misjudged the situation. I hope that the young people will become wiser and forge ahead after serving their sentences.

Five defendants: Ye Zhuobang (19 years old, student), Wu Nanhai (22 years old, waiter), Tang Henghui (25 years old, student), Gong Hanwen (25 years old, MTR mechanic) and Lu Yubai (21 years old, student), were arrested. He is charged with participating in an illegal assembly at Yen Chow Street at the junction of Sham Shui Po Police Station and Cheung Sha Wan Road on August 25, 2019.

Ye also charged with participating in illegal assembly at Yen Chow Street between Sham Shui Po Police Station and Fuk Wah Street.

Wu had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge, while the other four defendants were found guilty after trial.

Ye, Gong and Lu were unable to attend today due to the Correctional Services Department's anti-epidemic measures, and the judge sentenced them in their absence.

Demonstrators are less confrontational

When sentencing, the judge pointed out that the illegal assembly in this case lasted about 77 minutes, and the protesters gathered and dispersed from time to time, ranging from dozens to 200.

Although the police raised the flag several times to warn, there was no need to use tear gas. The protesters were less confrontational and did not target high-risk buildings. The defendant did not play a calling or leading role.

However, a member of the public was attacked at the time of the incident, with a certain degree of violence.

The judge stressed that the ethos of acts that undermined social peace should not last long.

The judge sentenced Ye to a rehabilitation center because of his age and the report's recommendations; and four months in prison because of Wu's guilty plea.

As for Tang, Gong Hanwen and Lu, who were convicted after trial, they were sentenced to six months in prison.

Case number: DCCC 386/2020

Three men were sentenced to 9 to 21 months in prison for illegal assembly in Hung Hom. A 16-year-old girl was sentenced to a rehab center. The man arrested at the other two scenes was sentenced to six months in prison for illegal assembly with about 50 people during the three-day strike

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