Woman arrested after allegedly throwing coins at High Court judges during hearing in Hong Kong
Same person was held last week but later released after she was seen taking a photo in court before a criminal trial started
A woman caught taking pictures in a Hong Kong court last week was removed from the High Court on Wednesday after she allegedly threw coins at judges from the public gallery during a hearing.
None of the three judges was hit and security guards quickly escorted the woman, 50, out of the court. She was also banned from entering again.
A judiciary spokesman declined to comment on the incident but denied there was a security breach.
Police said she was arrested for contempt of court and had been held for questioning.
The drama took place late morning in fourth-floor court No 4 of the High Court building in Admiralty.
So was given a 16-month jail term in 2016 for misconduct in public office but was granted bail pending appeal.
As the hearing was proceeding, the woman allegedly threw some coins in the direction of the bench. The coins landed on the floor near the court clerks’ desk, in front of the judges’ bench.
After being escorted out, the woman then tried to enter other courts, with guards in pursuit, but she was stopped. She eventually managed to get into the second-floor court No 38, where High Court Registrar Lung Kim-wan was handling a case.
Another woman arrested for taking photos in Hong Kong court
The woman claimed she had been unfairly treated in a court case several years ago. Lung reportedly told the woman he could not help her.
Police were called and the woman was eventually taken to another room for questioning. She was taken away from the building at around 1.30pm.
Last week, the woman attended a criminal trial at the High Court and was seen taking a picture before the hearing began. She was arrested but released after a preliminary investigation.
Allowing photography in court ‘could help prevent future riots’
Since late January, security has been stepped up at the High Court building after a chopper-wielding man threatened a judge during a hearing last October. Now members of the public accessing floors with courts have to go through a metal detector and get their bags checked. They are also not allowed to bring in drinks.
