Hong Kong pan-democrat Howard Lam jailed after losing appeal against conviction in torture claim
- Last year, Lam was found guilty of one count of knowingly making a false report to police about an offence, but was out on bail
- On Thursday, he lost his appeal against the conviction, and was asked to serve his five-month sentence
A member of Hong Kong’s pan-democratic camp was jailed on Thursday after he lost his appeal against the conviction of misleading police by making up a report about being kidnapped, drugged, and tortured by mainland Chinese agents who punched staples into his thighs.
Mr Justice Alex Lee Wan-tang refused Howard Lam Tsz-kin’s appeal and sent him to prison to serve his five-month sentence. Lam had been out on bail.
Defence counsel Joe Chan said his client was going to appeal to a higher court.
“I am not guilty,” Lam said in a statement released after the hearing. “I solemnly declare that I have never lied.”
Lam, the founding member of the Democratic Party, had stuck to his story even as he returned to the High Court on Thursday, claiming his conviction was based on speculation and fabricated videos featuring someone who looked like him.
But the judge concluded that the conviction was both lawful and reasonable, and dismissed all seven grounds of appeal.