Five protesters accused of ambushing Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee's car during an abode-seekers' demonstration have a case to answer, a magistrate ruled yesterday. Hong Kong residents Poon Ping-kuen, 51, Lam Pik-fai, 65, and Hung Siu-yuen, 52, and mainland abode-seekers Hui Yau-yim, 30, and Tsoi Ching-hau, 29, were told there was sufficient evidence against them to warrant a joint charge of obstruction in a public place. They will present their defence today in the Western Court. The court heard the five unlawfully assembled either at the car park outside the Legislative Council Building or in Jackson Road near the Hong Kong Club, Central, on April 24 this year. Poon was told he also had a case to answer for allegedly assaulting Detective Senior Inspector Tang Wai-keung outside the Legco Building. He also faces an additional charge, with co-accused Lam, of behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause a breach of the peace. But Magistrate Anthony Yuen Wai-ming said Hui had no case to answer for one count of behaving in a disorderly manner near the Hong Kong Club, due to insufficient evidence. The court earlier heard the five accused were among 100 right-of-abode demonstrators who surrounded Mrs Ip's car, which was stopped at the Legco Building entrance near Jackson Road and Chater Road, shortly after 6pm. During the melee, police and Legco Building security staff encircled the vehicle to protect the car holding Mrs Ip from the protesters.