A 36-year-old music producer was yesterday sentenced to five years in prison by a district court for participating in a 2019 anti-fugitive bill protest.
Mok Chun-yu was arrested on September 29, 2019, after throwing bricks on Harcourt Road, Admiralty. On that day, protesters in the area had specifically targeted the SAR government headquarters in Tamar in a move that judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi said degraded "the beautiful scenery" of the surrounding business and political districts "in the eyes of foreign powers."
The intensity of the protest was shocking, Chan said, adding that people were charging at police officers while throwing bricks and gas bombs at the headquarters.
Chan went on to say the protests will undoubtedly take their place as a bleak chapter in "the history of law-abiding Hongkongers."
Since the protest that day had "challenged the core of governance," Chan said, Mok's participation calls for a longer jail term. He also emphasized that the protest came just two days before national day on October 1, saying this further contributes to the sensitivity of the case.
While the defense argued Mok did not plan to participate in the protest and was only in the area because he was preparing for a music performance in Wan Chai, Chan dismissed these claims.
Chan pointed out that Mok wasn't carrying any musical instruments and was instead carrying protest equipment, including a helmet, a gas mask and arm guards.
Mok was an active participant and showed no remorse, Chan said, adding he didn't even write a mitigation letter.
Furthermore, Mok had resisted arrest by attempting to throw one last brick before being subdued by officers, Chan said, adding this makes him more guilty than the other two defendants in the case.
The two in question - student Yeung Lok-him, 22, and computer technician Jeffrey Lee Kee-chun, 25 - were each sentenced to 4 years on May 24. Mok's sentencing was scheduled for yesterday instead due to a bout of Covid-19.
Chan acknowledged Mok's sentence was heavy but commented that "a heavy sentence is the only way to demonstrate power and prevent further crimes."
The intensity of the protest was shocking, Chan said, adding that people were charging at police officers while throwing bricks and gas bombs at the headquarters.
Chan went on to say the protests will undoubtedly take their place as a bleak chapter in "the history of law-abiding Hongkongers."
Since the protest that day had "challenged the core of governance," Chan said, Mok's participation calls for a longer jail term. He also emphasized that the protest came just two days before national day on October 1, saying this further contributes to the sensitivity of the case.
While the defense argued Mok did not plan to participate in the protest and was only in the area because he was preparing for a music performance in Wan Chai, Chan dismissed these claims.
Chan pointed out that Mok wasn't carrying any musical instruments and was instead carrying protest equipment, including a helmet, a gas mask and arm guards.
Mok was an active participant and showed no remorse, Chan said, adding he didn't even write a mitigation letter.
Furthermore, Mok had resisted arrest by attempting to throw one last brick before being subdued by officers, Chan said, adding this makes him more guilty than the other two defendants in the case.
The two in question - student Yeung Lok-him, 22, and computer technician Jeffrey Lee Kee-chun, 25 - were each sentenced to 4 years on May 24. Mok's sentencing was scheduled for yesterday instead due to a bout of Covid-19.
Chan acknowledged Mok's sentence was heavy but commented that "a heavy sentence is the only way to demonstrate power and prevent further crimes."