A former police officer was on Monday sentenced to 10 months in jail after mocking the death of a marine police chief inspector in a boat collision during an anti-smuggling operation in 2021.
The 28-year-old defendant Chui Chun-man was convicted of doing an act or acts with a seditious intention last month over his online comments towards the dead marine chief inspector Lam Yuen-yee in September 2021.
Chui, who quit the force after his arrest, was serving in the Ma On Shan Division Patrol Sub Unit during the time of the incident. He wrote on his
Facebook page between September 25 and 28 that insulting Lam with the intention of bringing hatred or contempt, or to excite disaffection, against the Hong Kong government.
In sentencing, West Kowloon Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han said the comments made by Chui regarding Lam's death were wicked and mean, provoked citizens' dissatisfaction against the police and increased the risk of people being hostile to police and government.
Heung said Chiu's crime was serious and sentenced him to prison for ten months. She also rejected his bail application for waiting for an appeal.