Activist jailed for shouting slogans in policeman's ear with loud-hailer

An activist who shouted at a policeman through a loud-hailer was yesterday jailed for five months after being convicted of obstructing police and assaulting an officer by hurting his ear.

Sentencing Sunny Leung Chun-wai, Magistrate Li Wai-chi said Leung was cowardly to shout 'we have the right to assemble' through his loud-hailer just a few centimetres away from Constable Choi Chi-lun.

The policeman said the shouting made him feel dizzy and caused him pain in his right ear.

Mr Li said Constable Choi, who had lined up with other officers to block the protesters, was therefore unable to resist the attack.

'The defendant's act was cowardly behaviour,' he said.

'It was because of his own prejudice [against police] that he assaulted the constable.'

Leung, 32, a social worker, was convicted of one count of assaulting Constable Choi in the execution of his duty and one of obstructing Senior Inspector Au Wai-man after getting in his way during a demonstration outside police headquarters in Wan Chai on August 11.