Derek Lam (second from right) with his fellow activists outside the court. Photo: RTHK
A member of the student activist group Scholarism, Derek Lam, appeared in Kowloon City Court on Friday charged with rioting in Mong Kok earlier this week.
But no plea was taken and the case was adjourned until April 7 to allow the police to carry out further investigations and to obtain legal advice.
Lam was granted bail of HK$2,000 but banned from entering certain parts of Mong Kok. The only exception is if he intends to change to another form of public transport there.
Another defendant, Yung Wai-yip, who is also facing a rioting charge, was granted bail on the same terms as Lam. No plea was taken from him either and his case was also adjourned to April 7.
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old student facing a rioting charge in connection with the clashes in Mong Kok appeared in the Kowloon City Juvenile Court. No plea was taken from him and his case was also adjourned to April 7.
The boy was granted bail of HK$3,000 and was also banned from entering certain parts of Mong Kok. He was also ordered not to leave Hong Kong and to stay at home between 8pm and 6am.
Speaking outside court, Lam said it was unbelievable that he had been arrested. He said he did not take part in any of the violence and had already left before it erupted. Lam added that while a civilised society would not tolerate any violence, unreasonable arrests should not be allowed either.
On Thursday, 37 people appeared in the same court on charges arising out of the clashes. Thirty-six of them each were each facing a rioting charge. Another defendant was facing one count of unlawful assembly.
No plea was taken from them and their case was also adjourned until April 7.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1241763-20160212.htm
