Hong Kong woman accused of assaulting and detaining mainland reporter during airport protest denied bail
20 August 2019, 9:24 PM SGT
A woman accused of assaulting and detaining a reporter from mainland China during an anti-government protest at Hong Kong airport was denied bail on Tuesday – while another protester was banned from the shopping centre where he allegedly assaulted a police officer.
Amy Pat Wai-fun, 23, was charged at Eastern Court with one count each of false imprisonment and unlawful assembly. She was also charged with wounding Fu Guohao, a journalist with the state-run tabloid Global Times.
The charges stemmed from Pat’s role in a demonstration at Hong Kong International Airport on August 13, when protesters occupied the arrival and departure hallsand caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
The Eastern Court heard on Tuesday that Pat, together with others, falsely imprisoned Fu on August 13 and into the next day at the departure hall at Terminal 1. She allegedly assaulted Fu at the same location, the court heard.
Global Times journalist Fu Guohao was tied up by anti-government protesters at Hong Kong International Airport on August 13. Photo: Sam Tsang
The charges also accused her of taking part in an illegal assembly at the airport “in a disorderly, intimidating, insulting and provocative manner”. Pat was not required to make a plea.
Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai denied her bail and remanded her into custody until her next hearing on October 28, pending a police investigation.
Separately, Kung Chi-yuen was brought to Eastern Court to face charges on Tuesday relating to another extradition bill protest.
The 49-year-old security guard was not required to make a plea to one count of wounding with intent and two counts of unlawful assembly relating to a protest in Sha Tin on July 14.
On that night, protesters engaged in intense clashes with police in the New Town Plaza. Kung was charged for his role in the protest and for injuring Kwok Siu-hang, a plain-clothes police officer.
He was granted a cash bail of HK$3,000 (US$382)) and told not to set foot in the New Town Plaza shopping centre. His case was adjourned to September 16.
Kung Chi-yuen, a 49-year-old security guard, leaves the Eastern Court in Sai Wan Ho on Tuesday. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Also on Tuesday, prosecutors at Kowloon City Court demanded a gag order to prohibit the publication of personal information that could lead to the identification of an alleged victim of indecent assault and false imprisonment during a protest in Mong Kok on July 7.
The alleged victim was a woman identified as X in court documents. The charges of her assault and imprisonment were laid out in the charges against cook Wong Tsz-lung, 31, student Ng Yui-chit, 23, and teacher Jessica So Wai-sin, 24.
The three suspects were accused of “unlawfully and injuriously” imprisoning X and detaining her against her will. Wong facing further allegations of indecent assault.
All three defendants objected to the application of the gag order.
Detailed arguments were scheduled to be heard on October 3, before the case returns to the same court on November 7.
Protesters have taken to the streets for 11 consecutive weeks – through peaceful marches and violent clashes with police – to push back the government’s controversial extradition bill which, if passed, would allow the city to send fugitives to, among other jurisdictions, mainland China for trial.
The bill has since been suspended but protesters are asking for a complete withdrawal and a commission of inquiry to look into police’s possible abuse of power in handling the recent protests.
20 August 2019, 9:24 PM SGT
A woman accused of assaulting and detaining a reporter from mainland China during an anti-government protest at Hong Kong airport was denied bail on Tuesday – while another protester was banned from the shopping centre where he allegedly assaulted a police officer.
Amy Pat Wai-fun, 23, was charged at Eastern Court with one count each of false imprisonment and unlawful assembly. She was also charged with wounding Fu Guohao, a journalist with the state-run tabloid Global Times.
The charges stemmed from Pat’s role in a demonstration at Hong Kong International Airport on August 13, when protesters occupied the arrival and departure hallsand caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
The Eastern Court heard on Tuesday that Pat, together with others, falsely imprisoned Fu on August 13 and into the next day at the departure hall at Terminal 1. She allegedly assaulted Fu at the same location, the court heard.
The charges also accused her of taking part in an illegal assembly at the airport “in a disorderly, intimidating, insulting and provocative manner”. Pat was not required to make a plea.
Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai denied her bail and remanded her into custody until her next hearing on October 28, pending a police investigation.
Separately, Kung Chi-yuen was brought to Eastern Court to face charges on Tuesday relating to another extradition bill protest.
The 49-year-old security guard was not required to make a plea to one count of wounding with intent and two counts of unlawful assembly relating to a protest in Sha Tin on July 14.
On that night, protesters engaged in intense clashes with police in the New Town Plaza. Kung was charged for his role in the protest and for injuring Kwok Siu-hang, a plain-clothes police officer.
He was granted a cash bail of HK$3,000 (US$382)) and told not to set foot in the New Town Plaza shopping centre. His case was adjourned to September 16.
Also on Tuesday, prosecutors at Kowloon City Court demanded a gag order to prohibit the publication of personal information that could lead to the identification of an alleged victim of indecent assault and false imprisonment during a protest in Mong Kok on July 7.
The alleged victim was a woman identified as X in court documents. The charges of her assault and imprisonment were laid out in the charges against cook Wong Tsz-lung, 31, student Ng Yui-chit, 23, and teacher Jessica So Wai-sin, 24.
The three suspects were accused of “unlawfully and injuriously” imprisoning X and detaining her against her will. Wong facing further allegations of indecent assault.
All three defendants objected to the application of the gag order.
Detailed arguments were scheduled to be heard on October 3, before the case returns to the same court on November 7.
Protesters have taken to the streets for 11 consecutive weeks – through peaceful marches and violent clashes with police – to push back the government’s controversial extradition bill which, if passed, would allow the city to send fugitives to, among other jurisdictions, mainland China for trial.
The bill has since been suspended but protesters are asking for a complete withdrawal and a commission of inquiry to look into police’s possible abuse of power in handling the recent protests.
