Lengthy prison terms handed down to Tamar rioters

Five rioters have been sentenced to up to four years and seven months in jail and two teenagers sent to training center for taking part in an anti-extradition protest three years ago.

Deputy District Judge Cheng Lim-chi handed down the sentence for the seven rioters who were arrested during a siege at government headquarters on September 29, 2019.

Five adults defendants - Tse Hiu-fung, 23, Tsang Hin-ka, 27, Wong Yuk-cheung, 23, Yau Sin-yu, 25, and Fan Yu, 33 - were sentenced to 40 to 55 months in jail.

Two others who were underaged at the time of the crime, Fung Ki, 18, and a 17-year-old boy unnamed in the court, were sentenced to rehabilitation.

Tsang, Wong, Yau, Fan and Fung had pleaded guilty. Tse and the 17-year-old pleaded not guilty, but were convicted eventually.

During the 30-minute clash, molotov cocktails were tossed at the Tamar office. Protesters used iron bars to block the road and paralyze traffic.

"Most people had covered their faces and were in black attire, showing they were engaged in illegal behavior and had to hide their identity," said Cheng, adding that there was no evidence to prove the defendants were the riot leaders.

In response to the defense's claim that the trial had been delayed by three years and posed injustice, Cheng said the trial dates were set in 2021 and he did not see any delay.

However, he acknowledged that none of the defendants had criminal history and believed they committed rioting under the influence of "wrong beliefs."

Cheng said in mitigation that most of the defendants had a decent background, good academic results and are pillars of their families.

"They have shown remorse because their future is affected by this case," he said.

However, he said the two teenagers had exhibited violent behavior in the riot by tossing objects at the government office, and that was a factor for a heavier sentence.

Additionally, taking into consideration that some defendants had pleaded guilty at different stages of the trial, Cheng deducted their jail term accordingly.

Eventually, Tse is sentenced to four years and seven months; Tsang four years and one month; Wong and Fan three years and four months; and Yau three years and five months.

Cheng was initially scheduled to hand down a sentence for an eighth defendant, 22-year-old Lau Yin-sheung, who had pleaded guilty. But Lau was observing Covid isolation and will be sentenced on Friday.

jane.cheung@singtaonewscorp.com