Advertisement
Advertisement
Occupy Central
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
The seven policemen were sentenced to jail over the assault case involving Occupy activist Ken Tsang Kin-chiu. Photo: Sam Tsang

Son of PLA general under fire over reward to beat up Hong Kong judge

Barrister says internet offer after police officers jailed for assaulting Occupy activist smacks of contempt of court

The son of a late People’s Liberation Army commander risks being in contempt of court after he offered 10,000 yuan (HK$11,300) to anyone to beat up a judge who jailed seven police officers for ­assaulting an Occupy activist.

The offer by Cai Xiaoxin, son of Major General Cai Changyuan, came as several pro-establishment groups continued their protests against the two-year prison terms handed down by District Court judge David Dufton, calling them “too harsh” and unfair.

In passing sentence on Friday, Dufton said there was “no justification” for the vicious assault on a defenceless protester, Ken Tsang Kin-chiu, during the Occupy demonstrations.

Cai, writing on his Weibo social media account on Sunday, said: “I am willing to offer 10,000 yuan to the one who would beat up the British ‘judge’ David Dufton, and I mean it.”

His comments were shared more than 500 times in half a day, with angry Chinese internet users saying the court should send ­Occupy activists to jail instead.

Meanwhile in Hong Kong, around 200 protesters marched to Government House in Central to urge Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to pardon the seven policemen.

Pro-Beijing group Caring Hong Kong Power also held a rally at Wan Chai police headquarters.

Apart from contempt of court, barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said Cai may also have committed the offence of accessing a computer with criminal or dishonest intent because he had instigated others to break the law.

He said Cai, who is based in Beijing, could still face legal consequences when he entered Hong Kong, should police decide to pursue the case.

Luk called on the public to ­respect the rule of law.

“The seven policemen can file an appeal should they think the judge handed down a wrongful judgment,” he said. “People should not insult the judge.”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Son of PLA general under fire over reward to beat up judge
Post