A protester is hauled away by policemen during last year's street occupation. Police arrested 955 people during the protests and prosecuted 140 of 209 who have entered various stages of the judicial process. Photo: Bloomberg
Seven in 10 people prosecuted in the aftermath of last year’s democracy protests have been convicted or required to be on good behavior.
Twenty-three were acquitted and 17 had charges against them quashed, according to Ming Pao Daily.
Law Yuk-kai, director of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, said the fact that three in 10 defendants were innocent or had no case to answer shows that their arrests were arbitrary.
Police arrested 955 people during the protests and prosecuted 140 of 209 who have entered various stages of the judicial process, according to Lo Mung-hung, director of the police crime and security division.
Investigations have been completed into 48 people who turned themselves in under the so-called “arrest by appointment”, he said.
The Department of Justice is expected to decide whether to file formal charges against them.
Meanwhile, director of operations Lau Yip-shing said the police department has completed a review of a program to more effectively deal with similar mass actions.
It recommended an emergency response team in each of the five police regions, rehiring of newly retired constables and a social media liaison officer.
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