Social worker found guilty for rioting on retrial

Social worker Jackie Chen Hung-sau was convicted for rioting on retrial at the District Court yesterday after she told police officers to stay calm and allow time for protesters to leave the riot scene through a loudspeaker during the 2019 city-wide protests.

The District Court originally ruled that Chen, now 48, has no case to answer for her rioting charge back in 2020, but the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the Department of Justice’s appeal against the ruling and ordered a retrial.

Handing down her verdict yesterday, deputy district judge May Chung Ming-sun said Chen intentionally went to the scene, as she was in a black T-shirt, and also brought to the scene a loudspeaker and a respirator.

Judge Chung said the police were in a standoff with protesters multiple times that night, and innocent passersby should leave the scene immediately, therefore those staying behind must be riot participants resisting police officers.

Chen not only did not leave, but also used her loudspeaker to yell untrue accusations towards the police, which includes directly or indirectly implying the police advancing too quickly or using excessive force, according to Chung’s verdict.

The words yelled by Chen were not reflecting the actual situation, and also provocative, which is aimed at encouraging protesters’ emotions, making them even more hostile towards police officers, and Chen was well aware and still chose to do it, Chung added.

Chen was encouraging protesters to continue their assembly, and make them feel that someone is speaking for them, while also delaying the police’s advancement.

Despite Chen standing close to the police instead of the protesters, Chen’s action and speech showed connection with protesters. If Chen wanted to calm the atmosphere, she would not have been biased.

The only reasonable theory is that Chen had the intention to participate in the riot, and assembled with the protesters, according to Chung, and she therefore found Chen guilty.

Judge Chung adjourned the case till April 9 for mitigation, while Chen will be remanded under jail custody until her next court appearance.

Chen’s mother, who was also at the District Court yesterday, fell into tears after hearing the verdict, while Chen yelled from the stands to her mother: “Take good care of yourself.”

(Michael Shum)