Police reluctant to name officer in wounded journalist's lawsuit

The police told the High Court today they identified an officer who fired a rubber bullet on September 29, when an Indonesian journalist was hit in the eye, but were reluctant reveal the officer's name as it will establish a link between the two incidents, RTHK reports.

The police disclosed the information at a hearing where journalist, Veby Indah, was asking the court to order the police to name the officer who shot her, to pursue legal action.

Police said their initial investigations identified one officer who discharged his firearm on September 29 in Wan Chai where police were clearing a group of protesters.

Indah was there covering the events for an Indonesian magazine when she was hit on her right eye by a projectile.

A lawyer for the police said today the department was reluctant to reveal in court the name of the officer who fired the shot because he didn’t want to establish that it caused the journalist's injury.

Judge Russel Coleman said he wasn't concerned with whether the officer bore civil or criminal liability, as he was only dealing with revealing the officer’s identity.

He set a hearing for February 17 and said he expected to make a ruling on that day.

Indah who was present at the court said she was grateful the judge realised the urgency of her case as she can't file for a private prosecution after March 29, six months after the incident.