Politics
20:58, 18-May-2018
Hong Kong court finds man guilty of rioting in 2016 Mong Kok unrest
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A Hong Kong court on Friday found Edward Leung, leading a protest in 2016, guilty on one charge of rioting, a verdict that could see him put behind bars for up to 12 years.
The case concerned an overnight protest in 2016 that turned violent, injuring about 130 people, mostly police.
The violence took place in Mong Kok, one of the city's busiest districts, in February 2016 just a day after the Lunar New Year began.
The prosecution argued that Leung played a leading role to incite the riot, but Leung said he was only trying to support hawkers selling street food and protect people on the scene when police used force.
Riot police guard a street where a fire was set by protesters in Mong Kok district in Hong Kong, China, Feb. 9, 2016. /Reuters Photo
Riot police guard a street where a fire was set by protesters in Mong Kok district in Hong Kong, China, Feb. 9, 2016. /Reuters Photo
Of the other charges the 26-year-old faced, the jury did not find him guilty of inciting a riot and failed to reach a majority decision on another rioting charge. Each rioting charge carries a maximum term of 10 years.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting a police officer, which carries a maximum sentence of two years. Another defendant Lo Kin-man was also found guilty of rioting in court.
The court has not decided on a date for sentencing.
Source(s): Reuters