New | Korean guilty of grabbing at gun of Hong Kong airport policeman
Judge rejects claim that lawyer was offering a 'traditional gesture of apology' to officer who blocked him from diplomats' immigration queue
A judge has dismissed a lawyer’s claim that he was merely trying to offer a traditional Korean apology when he grabbed at an airport policeman’s machine gun.
Finding Jang Young-su guilty of attempting to possess a firearm, Deputy Judge Timothy Casewell told the District Court on Wednesday: “I find the defendant’s explanation is a fabrication.”
At an earlier hearing, Jang, a 42-year-old lawyer, told the court he had tried to pat the policeman on the forearm after he blocked Jang from using the channel reserved for holders of diplomatic passports. Jang said the police officer misinterpreted his gesture, overreacted and pushed him away.
But Casewell said eyewitness evidence and CCTV footage showed that Jang had clutched the barrel of the machine gun. Although this went on for only four or five seconds, an officer who was at the scene had testified that Jang’s manner had led him to believe he would assault others, the judge said.
The judge said it was understandable that the officers had moved to take control of the situation, as the gun Jang had grabbed at was attached to a magazine containing 20 rounds of ammunition. Jang’s behaviour could have caused a “nasty scene”, Casewell added.
The judge adjourned sentencing until February 12 for a background report.