Hong Kong protester cleared of Christmas Day assault after magistrate decides policeman ‘did not tell truth’
- Ian Wong had been accused of pushing Station Sergeant Andrew Cheung during an incident in Telford Plaza last year
- But video footage showed that it was the officer who bumped into Wong, prompting Magistrate Jocelyn Leung to ‘disregard his evidence’
A man accused of pushing a Hong Kong policeman during an anti-government protest on Christmas Day has been cleared of the charge, after video footage showed the officer bumping him.
Magistrate Jocelyn Leung Siu-ling acquitted Ian Wong Ho-fung of one count of assaulting police during a protest in Kowloon Bay on December 25, after finding the officer “did not tell the truth in court”.
The 24-year-old mechanic appeared in Kwun Tong Court accused of pushing Station Sergeant Andrew Cheung, as the officer was about to leave Telford Plaza at 9pm after patrolling the shopping centre.
At the trial last Friday, Cheung testified that Wong had deliberately pushed him with his body, but two news clips played in court showed the officer stepping on the defendant and hitting him with his left shoulder, while there was no noticeable reaction from Wong.
When asked to respond to the footage, Cheung was adamant he made no physical contact with Wong until the latter went for him.