Jail terms sought for young Occupy trio
Top News | Phoebe Ng 10 Aug 2017The three student leaders involved in the Occupy movement should be placed behind bars for illegally entering a fenced- off area and encouraging others to follow them in 2014, prosecutors urged.
Demosisto leader Joshua Wong Chi- fung, 20, recently disqualified lawmaker Nathan Law Kwun-chung, 24, and university student leader Alex Chow Yong- kang, 26, had earlier avoided jail terms after being convicted on charges of illegal assembly.
But the government asked the three judges of the Court of Appeal yesterday to consider the gravity of their offenses and to jail them immediately.
Deputy director of public prosecutions David Leung Cheuk-yin said the protesters had failed to stay in a peaceful, rational and nonviolent manner.
"While the trio did not engage in direct use of force, there were security guards injured as a result," Leung said. "Sentencing should be punitive enough to prevent others committing the serious offense."
The slogans they chanted on stage to the crowd - "take back Civic Square" - had a violent connotation in Chinese, Leung added.
A community service report also suggested Wong and Law did not regret what they did and Wong had even said the government should be blamed.
"Their lack of remorse shows a community service order would not be suitable," Leung said.
But barrister Randy Shek Shu-ming, for Wong, said the trial magistrate had already considered the seriousness of the security guards' injuries.
Shek added Wong was remorseful.
"He was apologetic toward the injured. His reactions during the proceedings also reflected his repentance," Shek said. "They had anticipated physical contacts, but never expected any violence."
Unconvinced, Justice Wally Yeung Chun-kuen asked: "But they did not regret their offense. How would you explain that?"
The three judges reserved judgment until next Thursday.
In August 2016, Wong was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and Law 120 hours; Chow was given a three-week suspended jail sentence.
An appeal by the Department of Justice for heavier punishment was rejected last September. The Court of Appeal finally granted them the application when the department tried for a second time.
The September 2014 protest had helped launch the unprecedented 79-day Occupy movement days later.
phoebe.ng@singtaonewscorp.com
