3 Hongkongers plead not guilty to shooting water guns at police officers, reporters at Thai new year event in 2023
- Taxi driver, clerk and adult products retailer face five counts of assault on three auxiliary constables and two TVB reporters at Songkran festival on April 8, 2023
- They were arrested after one defendant posted video on his YouTube channel showing them soaking the five with water guns
Three Hong Kong men have pleaded not guilty to shooting water guns at police officers and reporters at a celebration of the Thai new year in 2023.
Taxi driver Tsang Wai-shing, clerk Ip Ka-kin, both 26, and adult products retailer Yuen Tsz-kin, 31, on Thursday denied five joint assault charges involving three auxiliary constables and two television reporters at Kowloon City Court.
They were accused of soaking the five with water guns at the Songkran festival in Kowloon City on April 8 last year.
Tsang and Yuen were separately charged over attacking another man at the same location.
Splashing water is a Thai cultural practice believed to wash away the misfortune of the past year.
Magistrate Philip Chan Chee-fai suggested streamlining the proceedings before the case went to trial after the prosecution told the court that 17 witnesses were ready to testify.
He ordered a pre-trial hearing to be held on April 18.
2 Hong Kong men arrested after ‘soaking Hong Kong officers with water gun’
He extended bail for three defendants with conditions. They will have to remain in Hong Kong and report to police every day.
Police made the arrests last year after Tsang posted a video on his YouTube channel “Bravedogdog” that showed the group spraying water at police officers and reporters from TVB, the city’s biggest free-to-air broadcaster.
The trio were arrested between April 12 and 17 last year.
