Trial against 8 Hong Kong police officers accused of beating street sleepers adjourned until April
Hong Kong Free Press
Eight police officers accused of beating homeless people, destroying their personal belongings and framing one of them have decided not to testify as the trial against the officers continued at Hong Kong’s District Court.
The court heard on Monday morning that none of the eight defendants would testify nor would they call any witnesses. Judge Kathie Cheung said the trial will be adjourned until April 30 for closing arguments, The Witness reported.
The officers, all of whom have been suspended, had their bail extended.
The high-profile case centred on two drug sweeps on April 4 and April 24, 2020, around Tung Chau Street Park, which is home to many street sleepers.
Nguyen Van Son and Le Van Muoi said they were beaten by officers during the operations. They also said that police had destroyed their belongings, with one saying they had been framed for possessing dangerous drugs.
Cheung ruled last Wednesday, following an 11-day hearing, that prosecutors had presented enough evidence to build a case against the eight officers.
Sergeant Lam Wah-ka and constables Kwok Chin-sing, Hon Ting-kwong, Leung Fei-pang, Pong Chun-sze, Mok Chi-shing, Wan Pak-Sze, Chan Sau-yip all pleaded not guilty to a total of 10 charges.
Among the charges were those relating to perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office, criminal damage, and inflicting grievous bodily harm.
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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