New | Media organisations asked to provide footage for probe into alleged police beating
Police have asked three media organisations to provide their video footage to assist the ongoing investigation of the alleged beating of a protester by seven police officers about two weeks ago.
Police have asked three media organisations - including TV stations and newspapers - to provide their video footage to assist the ongoing investigation of the alleged beating of a pro-democracy protester by seven police officers about two weeks ago, an official said on Tuesday.
But none had provided their videotapes so far, Chief Superintendent of Police Public Relations Branch Hui Chun-tak said at a press conference.
Police declined to reveal the three organisations on grounds of protecting the integrity of the investigation.
"We are dealing with this case seriously," said Hui. "We will consult the Department of Justice once we’ve collected enough evidence."
Hui said investigators had taken statement from Ken Tsang Kin-chiu, the pro-democracy protester who was allegedly beaten up at Tamar Park in the early hours of October 15, and the seven police officers allegedly involved in the incident.
In the same early morning, broadcaster TVB aired video footage showing a group of plain-clothes policemen dragging a handcuffed protester away from the main Occupy site in Admiralty before kicking and hitting the man – who is believed to be Tsang.
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The seven officers have been suspended from their posts.
A TVB spokesman said today: “It is our company policy not to release any footage of our programmes or any information in relation thereto, unless a court order is properly obtained.”
An ATV spokesman said the broadcaster would provide necessary assistance to the police investigation, without saying whether it would hand over any of their tapes.
Now TV’s editorial department said it would comply with the request if the tapes were to be used in the investigation, but would require a court order if it were to be used as evidence in court.
I-Cable News said it had never received a written request from the police.
Hui once again condemned the Occupy protesters for posing "severe threat" to the rule of law and causing an "unimaginable impact to society".
So far, 310 people had been arrested for unlawful assembly, breaking into government buildings, assaulting police officers and preventing officers from executing their duty, said Hui.
He added that 64 police officers had been injured during their handling the protests.
