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'Savage' protester gets seven years
A construction worker was jailed yesterday for seven years after attempting to kick a policeman and snatch his shotgun in 2019, while in a separate unrest case a solar panel worker was sentenced to four years and seven months for burning a national flag.
District court judge Adriana Tse Ching said the black-clad Tse Shun-shing's offense was extremely serious.
She said the district court can only hand down sentences of no more than seven years, although Tse deserved a heavier sentence.
Judge Tse said the violence in Tse's case was not planned, but it was serious as the anti-riot cop, identified as X in court, found himself alone against scores of protesters who tried to assault him.
She said it was "savage and unreasonable" for Tse to take part in an unlawful assembly while asking the police not to enforce the law, adding that Tse had assisted others to flee from the scene.
The cop escaped with only minor injuries because he was wearing a helmet, the judge noted.
The 31-year-old Tse was also sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment for taking part in the protest, and to one year's imprisonment for assaulting the cop. He will serve all the jail terms concurrently.
Tse had previously pleaded guilty to taking part in an unlawful assembly and assaulting a police officer during the Mong Kok protest on October 13, 2019, but denied trying to steal the officer's Remington shotgun outside the Grand Plaza shopping center.
The court convicted him of attempted robbery on August 25.
His accomplice, Chan Ka-chun, was sent to a rehabilitation center mainly due to his youth.
Chan, an 18-year-old student, was convicted of resisting arrest.
The judge said Chan, who was also accused of taking part in an unlawful assembly at Tai Koo Station in a separate case, needed rehabilitation and more disciplined education.
In a separate case, a solar panel worker was sentenced to four years and seven months in jail by district court judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on for burning a national flag outside Tung Chung Swimming Pool in September 2019.
Wong Cheuk-lai, 24, was also ordered to pay HK$880 compensation to a construction company for damaging its water-filled barriers.
Kwok said both attempted arson and arson were serious charges, as the fire might cause unexpected serious consequences.
Wong, who was affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was convicted on October 6 of criminal damage, desecrating the national flag, attempted arson and arson.
He had damaged a security camera and tore down the national flag from Tung Chung Swimming Pool on September 1, 2019.
The flag was then dumped and set on fire. Wong also lit up a water-filled barrier and poured flammable liquid over a nearby roadblock but walked away without lighting it.
She said the district court can only hand down sentences of no more than seven years, although Tse deserved a heavier sentence.
Judge Tse said the violence in Tse's case was not planned, but it was serious as the anti-riot cop, identified as X in court, found himself alone against scores of protesters who tried to assault him.
She said it was "savage and unreasonable" for Tse to take part in an unlawful assembly while asking the police not to enforce the law, adding that Tse had assisted others to flee from the scene.
The cop escaped with only minor injuries because he was wearing a helmet, the judge noted.
The 31-year-old Tse was also sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment for taking part in the protest, and to one year's imprisonment for assaulting the cop. He will serve all the jail terms concurrently.
Tse had previously pleaded guilty to taking part in an unlawful assembly and assaulting a police officer during the Mong Kok protest on October 13, 2019, but denied trying to steal the officer's Remington shotgun outside the Grand Plaza shopping center.
The court convicted him of attempted robbery on August 25.
His accomplice, Chan Ka-chun, was sent to a rehabilitation center mainly due to his youth.
Chan, an 18-year-old student, was convicted of resisting arrest.
The judge said Chan, who was also accused of taking part in an unlawful assembly at Tai Koo Station in a separate case, needed rehabilitation and more disciplined education.
In a separate case, a solar panel worker was sentenced to four years and seven months in jail by district court judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on for burning a national flag outside Tung Chung Swimming Pool in September 2019.
Wong Cheuk-lai, 24, was also ordered to pay HK$880 compensation to a construction company for damaging its water-filled barriers.
Kwok said both attempted arson and arson were serious charges, as the fire might cause unexpected serious consequences.
Wong, who was affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was convicted on October 6 of criminal damage, desecrating the national flag, attempted arson and arson.
He had damaged a security camera and tore down the national flag from Tung Chung Swimming Pool on September 1, 2019.
The flag was then dumped and set on fire. Wong also lit up a water-filled barrier and poured flammable liquid over a nearby roadblock but walked away without lighting it.
