Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ken Tsang, who was allegedly beaten by police during the 2014 pro-democracy protests and footage of the attack went viral, has been found guilty of assault and resisting police officers.
Mr Tsang, a member of the pro-democracy Civic Party, was found guilty of pouring an unknown liquid, widely believed to be urine, on police officers and of resisting arrest.
Images of police officers apparently beating up Mr Tsang for several minutes after he was led away in hand restraints were among the defining pictures of the pro-democracy protests in 2014.
Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen told the court that while Mr Tsang did not have “a specific target”, he knew there were police officers below his position and his actions had showed “hostility”.
Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the Basic Law introduced when Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, but the 2014 Hong Kong democracy protests angered Beijing, which abhors calls for greater democracy on its territory. Since then, the apparent rendition of several booksellers with anti-mainland views by Chinese security agents has angered and engendered fear in many people in Hong Kong.
Many in Hong Kong feel disillusioned about the political situation, and there is a widespread feeling that the events of Occupy Central in late 2014 have not been resolved. Others are angry that the democracy movement has damaged Hong Kong’s image.
As Mr Tsang arrived at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court, supporters held aloft yellow umbrellas, the symbol of Hong Kong's democracy movement.
He was found guilty of one count of assault and two of resisting arrest, but acquitted on two other charges of resisting arrest.
“I am disappointed but I do respect the court,” Mr Tsang told reporters outside the court.
His lawyer Robert Pang Yiu-hung told the South China Morning Post newspaper that the attack on his client was far more serious than the charges he has been found guilty of.
“His body was covered in wounds... he was tortured. He was punched and kicked in a dark corner as a punishment,” Mr Pang said. He believed the police had used “disproportionate violence” and said Mr Tsang had “received more than enough punishment” from the alleged beating and kicking he received after his arrest on the night of the incident.
Mr Pang said his client, who had no criminal record, could lose his social worker registration after the conviction.
Mr Tsang is to be sentenced next Monday and could face up to two years in jail.
(Additional reporting by Reuters)
