HK court rules nine 'Occupy' protest leaders guilty

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Nine leaders of the 2014 illegal "Occupy Central" movement were found guilty of public nuisance offenses on Tuesday at a court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

According to a verdict by the West Kowloon Magistrates' courts, Tai Yiu-ting, Chan Kin-man, and Chu Yiu-ming were found guilty of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance.

Tai and Chan were also convicted of incitement to commit a public nuisance.

File photo of Tai Yiu-ting. /Photo via China.org.cn

The prosecution alleged that when Tai, Chan and Chu launched the "Occupy Central" movement, they conspired together and with other persons to cause a nuisance to the public through the unlawful obstruction of public places and roads in or in the neighborhood of the Central District, Judge Johnny Chan said in the verdict.

The occupation of the public thoroughfares the trio agreed to carry out would amount to a common injury to the public or a significant section of the public, hence what was agreed was a conspiracy to commit public nuisance, the verdict said.

The other six defendants of this case were found guilty of incitement to commit public nuisance, and five of them were convicted of incitement to incite public nuisance.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency