Man who was carrying weapons amid police lockdown at Hong Kong Polytechnic University sentenced to 10 months’ jail
- Rex Pepper pleaded guilty to three counts of weaponry offences on March 31
- He is the first to be sentenced over the violent clashes that broke out in the university in November
A Hong Kong court on Tuesday passed the first sentence over the violent clashes that broke out in Polytechnic University five months ago, jailing a jobless man for 10 months for possessing an assortment of weapons near the battered campus.
Kowloon City Court heard that local resident Rex Pepper, 24, had carried an extendable baton, a hacksaw, a folded knife, a catapult and 208 metal pellets in Tsim Sha Tsui on November 17.
Over 1,300 protesters were arrested in the saga, with more than 200 charged with rioting in court. No charges have been laid yet against protesters arrested inside the campus.
Prosecutors said at 8pm on the day in question, Pepper carried the weapons and other protest paraphernalia 300 metres (984 feet) away from the campus. He was subdued after he and some 20 black-clad protesters attempted to flee from police.
Pepper pleaded guilty to three counts of weaponry offences on March 31.