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Probation ‘unduly lenient’ for Hong Kong protester sent to detention centre for hurling brick at police vehicle, appeal judges rule

  • Chan Yip-wan, 18, was sent to detention centre after prosecutors won a review of the 18 months’ probation handed down by principal magistrate
  • Defendant admitted to hurling a brick at police vehicle after an authorised public procession descended into chaos

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Protesters take cover under umbrellas on New Year's Day in 2020. Photo: Sam Tsang
An “unduly lenient” probation order imposed on a Hong Kong student who hurled a brick at a police vehicle during the city’s social unrest “certainly did him no good in the end”, Court of Appeal judges said on Monday, explaining why a detention centre was better for him.

Chan Yip-wan, 18, was sent to a centre earlier this month after prosecutors won a review of the 18 months’ probation handed down by Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai, with the appellate judges agreeing the original sentence was “both wrong in principle and manifestly inadequate”.

The HKU Space student had pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage and possession of things with intent to damage property over his role in an authorised public procession that descended into chaos on January 1, 2020.

He admitted to hurling a brick towards the back of a special crowd management vehicle in Wan Chai that evening. The projectile left an 8cm-long dent on the vehicle with repairs costing HK$9,900.

The 2020 New Year's Day march descended into chaos. Photo: Sam Tsang
The 2020 New Year's Day march descended into chaos. Photo: Sam Tsang

Upon arrest, he was further found to be carrying, among other things, a cutter, a hammer, a lighter and a plastic bottle containing highly flammable solvents.

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