Hong Kong protests: 6 acquitted of arson charges after judge rules there is no case to answer
- Four teens among group that had all charges dismissed in connection to incident on December 1, 2019
- Instead judge issues bind-over orders ranging from HK$1,500 to HK$10,000 to stay in place for two years
Six young Hongkongers on trial for conspiracy to commit arson during Hong Kong’s 2019 anti-government protests were acquitted on Tuesday, after a judge concluded they had no case to answer and dismissed all charges.
They were instead given bind-over orders from HK$1,500 to HK$10,000 to be on good behaviour and avoid committing crimes – particularly unlawful assembly, arson and possessing items with intent to destroy property – in the next two years.
The development came on the 12th day of trial at the District Court, after defence lawyers raised a host of complaints about the prosecution case and suggested proceeding by way of bind-over, instead of hearing evidence from the four remaining prosecution witnesses.
Those complaints included inconsistent witness accounts, as well as issues with police’s handling of exhibits seized from the defendants and at the scene.
For instance, officers were said to have handled exhibits without wearing gloves and photographed the items without changing the backdrop paper, which could have allowed the transfer of chemical substances from one exhibit to the next.