Hong Kong teen cleared of weapons charges after court finds police officer failed to present whole account of arrest
- Wong Chi-yan, 17, was arrested during a protest in Central last November and accused of possessing a laser pointer and spray paint for unlawful purpose
- But Eastern Court Magistrate Stanley Ho Chun-yiu calls officer an unreliable witness, pointing to several problems with his handling of the incident
A Hong Kong student charged with carrying a laser pointer and spray paint during an anti-government protest last year has been acquitted after the magistrate found the arresting officer failed to present the entire truth about the arrest.
Eastern Court Magistrate Stanley Ho Chun-yiu cleared 17-year-old Wong Chi-yan of two counts of weaponry offences after determining the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the student kept the seized items for unlawful purpose.
Constable Mak Ho-san, who arrested the defendant, testified he intercepted Wong on Wyndham Street after spotting him instructing other protesters to flee. When Wong tried to get away, he and Mak fell to the ground, and the officer tied his hands and detained him.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel David Chu Po-tin, Mak admitted he did not witness Wong nor other protesters committing any offences at the scene.
Although he saw some protesters carrying iron pipes, Mak said he did not give chase because his focus was solely on stopping the defendant.