Civic Party member Ken Tsang Kin-chiu said on Monday that he will lodge an appeal against a jail term handed to him by a local court in a case related to the 2014 pro-democracy protests.
Saying that he is extremely disappointed and unhappy about the decision of the Kowloon City Court, Tsang said he will continue to fight to get his name cleared in the Occupy-related case.
The comments came as the 40-year-old was given a five-week jail sentence after being found guilty of attacking police officers and resisting arrest during a street protest in October 2014.
A magistrate gave the ruling on Monday but set Tsang free on bail as the activist said he intends to file an appeal.
Tsang was found guilty on one count of assaulting police officers and two counts of resisting arrest during an incident that took place in the Admiralty area during the Umbrella Movement.
On Oct. 15, 2014, Tsang was alleged to have splashed some liquid on police officers who were trying to clear an underpass at Lung Wo Road, and also engaged in some scuffles.
Announcing the verdict, Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen said Tsang has shown no remorse for his attack on the police.
The case is different from other cases of police assault, which generally did not involve innocent officers, Law said, adding that Tsang clearly treated the officers as punching bags.
Splashing liquid on the police officers is tantamount to spitting on them, the judge said.
Law rejected eight points raised by Tsang’s lawyer for court leniency, saying the judiciary has a responsibility to protect police officers who are executing their duties.
The alleged attack happened the same day when some police officers were caught on camera beating up Tsang in a dark corner near the main Occupy protest zone in Admiralty.
Following the court decision, some of Tsang’s supporters who witnessed the proceedings expressed dismay, shouting slogans such as “justice is dead”.
As for Tsang, he said that he respects the Hong Kong judicial system but is disappointed at the ruling, and that he will lodge an appeal within the allowed 14-day time period.
He said that he will focus now on a separate court hearing that will begin in a trial of the police officers who beat him up during the Occupy protests.
Wednesday will mark the first day of a scheduled 20-day trial of seven police officers who allegedly beat up Tsang on the night of Oct. 15, 2014.
It is not clear if the guilty verdict on Tsang will affect his case against the seven cops, who were charged with “causing grievous bodily harm with intent”, with one officer also facing an additional charge of common assault.
The police officers have all pleaded not guilty.
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