Kenneth Lau
Thursday, December 03, 2015
The police watchdog may submit a report to Chief Executive Leung Chun- ying in the case of retired police superintendent Franklin Chu King-wai who allegedly hit a protester with his baton, claiming it was an "extension of his arm."
The Independent Police Complaints Council will meet officers' representatives next Tuesday to discuss Occupy Central complaints.
On July 10, the IPCC ruled that Chu, who retired from the force this July, assaulted a protester from the Occupy Movement in Mong Kok last year.
But its ruling was rejected by the Complaints Against Police Office.
The IPCC rejected the CAPO objection and stood firm on its stance after a special meeting on July 22.
In August, CAPO told the IPCC that it needed several months to seek legal advice.
An IPCC source said yesterday he believes the police will have received legal advice from the Department of Justice and explained its position.
A police spokesman said CAPO is seeking legal advice for further action.
It is understood the police are unlikely to get legal advice even by Tuesday.
IPCC chairman Larry Kwok Lam-kwong said: "We are going to make a decision before the end of the year."
Secretary general Ricky Chu Man-kin said the IPCC will take further action if the council and CAPO do not see eye to eye on what action to take against Chu.
"Writing a report to the chief executive will be one of our options, but it depends on the consensus of council members," said Chu, adding the council may disclose more details about the case.
Separately, the IPCC received 2,159 investigation reports on new cases from CAPO, including 172 Occupy-related complaints against the police, for the fiscal year ended March. They were down 12 percent from the previous fiscal year.
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