by Thomas Chan thomas.chan@scmp.com
SCMP - Hong KongToday, 3:34 PM
An elderly couple who molested and assaulted a passer-by at an Occupy protest in Mong Kok last year avoided prison today when a magistrate said she passed lenient sentences because of their history of cancer.
So Suet-ling, 65, was jailed for two weeks, suspended for one year, for molesting a woman, named as “X” in court for legal reasons, while her husband Chan Nam-sing, 72, was fined HK$8,000 for molesting X.
So had previously pleaded not guilty to one count of common assault, while Chan denied committing one charge of indecent assault.
Kwun Tong magistrate Peony Wong Nga-yan said that their offences could warrant immediate jail terms, but she passed lenient sentences due to “humanitarian reasons”.
The court heard that So and Chan had survived breast and liver cancer respectively, and they still had regular medical appointments.
Earlier, Kwun Tong Court heard that on October 4, the couple molested and assaulted the 36-year-old victim at Argyle Street in Mong Kok while she was filming the protest zones with her mobile phone.
The attacks happened when X had disputes with other onlookers.
“The victim tried to stop other people from fighting at the time. The two defendants, however, blamed her for meddling in other people’s business,” Wong said.
The court heard that on that day, So grabbed X’s phone after X said she was filming her. When X attempted to get her phone back, Chan used his fist to push her breasts at least three times.
In mitigation submissions, the couple’s lawyers said they felt sorry for their family because their case, which had been reported extensively by media, had brought them pressure.
They also submitted to court mitigation letters from three district councillors who praised the couple as kind-hearted and helpful.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1838623/elderly-couple-avoid-jail-attacking-woman-hong-kong-occupy
