Indonesian journalist shot in the face will request Hong Kong Police to launch criminal probe into incident
- Veby Indah’s lawyer Michael Vidler says police violated prescribed norms of using weapon by firing from potentially lethal distance and low angle
- But police Chief Superintendent John Tse defends operation, saying protesters from the scene were throwing petrol bombs at officers
An Indonesian journalist who was shot in the face while covering a protest in Hong Kong on Sunday will request the city’s police commissioner to launch a criminal probe into the incident, her lawyer said on Monday.
Veby Indah’s legal representative, Michael Vidler, also alleged the officer involved fired from a low angle and potentially lethal distance of about 12 metres (39 feet).
Vidler said Veby would also file civil proceedings to seek redress. The Indonesian Consulate, in a letter sent to police on Monday, also requested the force to conduct an investigation.
Veby injured her forehead and eyes after a riot police officer fired a round while she was standing on an overpass linking Immigration Tower to Wan Chai MTR station.
Chief Superintendent John Tse Chun-chung defended the operation at a press conference on Monday, saying there were both journalists and protesters at the scene, with the latter throwing at least two petrol bombs from the bridge, endangering the lives of the officers.