Hong Kong veteran activist Koo Sze-yiu jailed nine months over planned coffin protest

Elderly Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu was jailed for nine months on Friday over his plan to carry a coffin and burn joss paper money to protest the revamped district councils election last December, with the judge blasting his attempt to shame the government. 

Koo, 78, who suffers from terminal stage colorectal cancer, earlier pleaded not guilty to doing acts with seditious intent but was convicted by chief magistrate So Wai-tak at West Kowloon Court this morning. 

In sentencing, So said expressing objection for the betterment of society is not a crime. Yet, So pointed out that Koo’s ultimate goal was to shame the government, given how he used a coffin which symbolizes death and joss paper money to imply the end of the reign of the Central Government. 

Koo also attempted to incite citizens’ spirit of resistance and rebellion and promoted fear towards the government through the topic of the election, So added. 

“Bear in mind that Hong Kong has freedom of speech but it is not an absolute right. The freedom must be exercised within the existing legal boundaries,” So also said. 

In mitigation, Koo told the judge: “Over the last few decades I have been protesting peacefully … I am happy to become a martyr for democracy and human rights.” So interrupted Koo and sought to hear his background, and Koo replied: “My background is very simple. I hope Hong Kong has human rights and democracy.” 

Koo expects to undergo cancer surgery in March or April. 

So said Koo continued to commit the crime despite previous punishments, referring to Koo’s 15 protest-related convictions, and promoted his coffin protest and political agenda beforehand. 

In a view to prevent the peaceful social atmosphere from being disrupted, So sentenced Koo to a nine-month imprisonment. 

Also read: Elderly activist Koo Sze-yiu arrested by national security police: sources