Two bodyguards of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's student daughter who roughed up photographers outside her home in Tai Po can be prosecuted for working on tourist visas, justice officials have decided.
The South China Morning Post reported in June that the bodyguards, who were spared prosecution because justice officials decided they acted out of concern for Bona Mugabe's safety, did not have working visas at the time of the incident in February.
But after a five-month probe into their visa status, the Department of Justice ruled that there is a case for the bodyguards - Mapfumo Marks and his female colleague, Manyaira Reliance Pepukai - to answer.
Police have been advised they should formally interview the pair if the opportunity arises, and report back to the department for advice on whether a prosecution can proceed.
But Marks and Pepukai are unlikely ever to face prosecution as they returned to Zimbabwe before their three-month visitor visas expired and have since been replaced. It is not known if the new Zimbabwean bodyguards have work visas.
The Department of Justice declined to say whether any action was being contemplated against the Mugabe family for employing bodyguards without work visas.
Under the Immigration Ordinance, anyone contravening a condition of stay faces a HK$50,000 fine and two years' jail.