Twelve jailed between 26 months and nearly five years over PolyU riot

A 30-year-old translator was jailed for 56 months and three weeks for attacking a sergeant on the head with a hammer, as he was among 12 people sent to prison on Saturday over a riot during the social unrest. 

The 12 defendants are student Huen Hiu-nok, 22; logistic worker Kwong Siu-fan, 24; tech company operator Lee Pui-shan, 26; courier Or Yan-lung, 22; translator Jeffrey Wan Ho-Chung, 30; research assistant Tam Chun-fai, 23; fresh graduate Tse Siu-lung, 23; personal trainer Ng Yat-hin, 22; entertainment center manager Wong Man-ho, 26; elevator technician Leung Sik-chun, 26; lifegaurd Luk Wai-hang, 24; and administration clerk Lanko Lam Ho-yeung, 29. 

In the District Court today, judge Josiah Lam Wai-kuen jailed Huen, Tam, Tse, and Luk for 26 months and two weeks. Lee and Leung were jailed for 28 months, Lam for 28 months and two weeks, and Kwong for 33 months. 

Or and Ng were sentenced to a 34-month imprisonment, and Wong was slapped a 35-month term. 

Wan was handed the heftiest term of 56 months and three weeks for he also pleaded guilty to a count of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. 

The court heard that Wan beat the back of a sergeant four times when he was arresting a suspect and hit his helmet twice and the right side of his head once using a hammer. The sergeant was then sent to hospital to undergo a surgery and was discharged the next day. 

Judge Lam said it was an aggravating factor that Wan attacked an officer performing his duties at the scene of the riot. The judge continued that Wan used a hammer to facilitate the assault and his crime was of a serious nature. Luckily, that sergeant’s head was protected by a helmet. 

Judge Lam then started Wan’s jail term at five years and reduced it given his guilty plea. Wan will serve part of his assault term concurrently with the riot term. 

They were among 19 protesters captured on Cheong Wan Road outside Polytechnic University on November 18, 2019, and charged with rioting. 

Five had earlier pleaded guilty and were sent to a training center, while two others were acquitted after a trial. 

Huen, Lee, Wan, Tam, Tse, Leung, Luk, and Lam had earlier admitted to the offense, while the rest pleaded not guilty and were later convicted.