Hong Kong opposition activist pleads not guilty in police corruption case linked to Yuen Long MTR attack in 2019
- Former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting accused of unlawfully revealing identity of officer under investigation
- Lam has been charged with rioting in connection with the incident two years ago
The Democratic Party member, who is currently remanded in jail under the national security law, denied three counts of disclosing the identity of people under investigation when his case returned to Eastern Court on Tuesday, four months after he was prosecuted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
“I, Lam Cheuk-ting, will in no way plead guilty,” the 43-year-old told Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen.
The ICAC has accused Lam of unlawfully revealing that Superintendent Yau Nai-keung, then assistant commander in Yuen Long district, was the subject of an investigation by the watchdog into the attack at Yuen Long MTR on July 21, 2019. The offence is punishable by a year in prison and a HK$20,000 (US$2,600) fine under the city’s Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
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Defence lawyer Jonathan Man Ho-ching said Lam would not dispute the factual circumstances of the case, but would argue his acts did not amount to an offence.
The lawyer also applied to rescind the HK$2,000 bail granted to Lam in December last year. Lam said it was meaningless to extend his bail in the present case when he was already remanded in other proceedings.
A trial date will be fixed when the case is heard again on June 22.
The July 21 incident marked a divisive chapter in 2019’s anti-government protests, as a mob of white-shirted men attacked protesters and passengers with rods and rattan canes, leaving at least 45 people injured.
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The absence of police that night has been called into question, but the force said its manpower was stretched to capacity while dealing with a protest in the heart of the city.
Lam, who suffered an injury to his mouth in the attack that required 18 stitches, was charged with rioting in August last year in connection with the incident.
He was granted temporary release in both the riot and ICAC proceedings, but was detained after he and 46 opposition politicians and activists were charged with subversion over an unofficial primary election for the Legislative Council last summer.
