8 police officers who allegedly beat homeless people have case to answer, Hong Kong court rules
Hong Kong Free Press
Eight policemen have a case to answer after allegedly beating several homeless people and destroying their belongings in Sham Shui Po, the District Court has ruled.
Judge Kathie Cheung said on Tuesday that the prosecutor had presented enough evidence to build a case against the defendants following an 11-day hearing, InMediaHK reported. The court will continue to hear the case next Monday, when the defence will decide whether the officers will testify.
The case involved two police drug sweeps on April 4 and April 24, 2020 around Tung Chau Street Park – home to many street sleepers in the city.
Some of them alleged to the police and media that – during the two operations – officers beat them, destroyed personal belongings, and also framed one street sleeper by accusing him of possessing dangerous drugs.
The police announced in late 2020 that eight policemen had been charged over suspected criminal damage, assault, obstruction of justice and misconduct following an investigation and consultation of the Department of Justice.
In court last Tuesday, a doctor who had treated Nguyen Van Son – one of the homeless people who went to see a doctor after the drug sweep – said that Nguyen had been diagnosed with having a fracture to the rib.
The doctor said that Nguyen had experienced pain on the lower-right side of his torso and that his 10th rib had been fractured, but had no external wounds, bruising, or swelling.
The defendants included Sergeant Lam Wah-ka and police constables Hon Ting-kwong, Leung Fei-pang, Pong Chun-sze, Mok Chi-shing, Wan Pak-Sze, Chan Sau-yip and Wok Chin-sing. They were all suspended by the police force.
They have all pleaded not guilty to a total of 10 charges, including five counts of intending to pervert the course of justice, two counts of misconduct in public office, two counts of criminal damage, and one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm on another person.
The prosecutor alleged to the court on January 9 – the first day of trial – that CCTV footage showed that the defendants sought to cover the surveillance cameras, physically assaulted homeless individuals with punches and kicks, and smashed rice and canned goods.
The defence counsel for sergeant Lam refuted the admissibility of the CCTV footage, partly claiming that Leisure and Cultural Services Department staff – who obtained clips from CCTV cameras – did not have sufficient knowledge of the technology.
However, the judge ruled that the CCTV footage was genuine and relevant to the case, and therefore would be presented in court, Ming Pao reported.
Death in police custody
Le Van Muoi, a 54-year-old homeless person who was also involved in this case, died whilst in the custody of the Correctional Services Department (CSD).
In September 2020, months after the suspected instance of police brutality, Le was arrested for suspected drug possession.
He was found lying on the ground unconscious in a cell at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre on October 8, 2020 with his trousers tied around his neck. He died the following day in hospital.
In November 2023, the Coroner’s Court unanimously ruled that Le had died by suicide following a two-day hearing.
| 💡If you are in need of support, please call: The Samaritans 2896 0000 (24-hour, multilingual), Suicide Prevention Centre 2382 0000 or the government mental health hotline on 18111. The Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology provides a WhatsApp hotline in English and Chinese: 6218 1084. See also: HKFP’s comprehensive guide to mental health services in Hong Kong. |
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