Hong Kong charges man with rioting almost 4 years after 2019 protest
Hong Kong Free Press
A Hong Kong man has been charged with rioting in Admiralty, almost four years after the protest took place in June 2019.
Twenty-seven-year-old assistant designer Leung Chi-kin appeared before Magistrate Philip Chan at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.
According to the charge sheet, Leung was accused of taking part in a riot on June 12, 2019 “in the vicinity of Harcourt Road… together with persons unknown.”
On that day, demonstrators clashed with police outside the government legislature in an attempt to block a now-axed extradition bill that would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to mainland China to stand trial. Officers fired tear gas and pepper spray, sparking criticism that police used excessive force.
The clashes also marked the beginning of the months-long pro-democracy protests and unrest in the latter half of 2019.
The magistrate adjourned the case to June 27 for the prosecution to prepare documents for transferring the case to the District Court, a higher court where defendants face a longer maximum term of imprisonment.
Leung was granted HK$5,000 cash bail. He must abide by conditions including staying in the city, handing over all travel documents, living at the declared address and reporting to a police station three times a week, according to local media.
The maximum sentencing for rioting is 10 years of imprisonment. As the case will be heard in the District Court, the heaviest jail term that can be handed down is capped at seven years.
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