The pan-democrat politicians arrested a year and a half ago for taking part in the July 2020 primary election are getting closer to trial. Full list of them here.
This promises to be a raw display of rule-by-law. It seems most of the accused will plead guilty to ‘conspiracy to commit subversion’. Not because they broke any law known at the time (the authorities took no action when the polls took place), but because they see no prospect of a fair trial for NatSec charges. The maximum sentence is life, and after a year and a half in jail without trial or bail, it is their only hope of ever seeing freedom again.
A brave few look likely to plead not guilty. It’s hard to believe they would get a full life sentence – but the NatSec regime is vindictive, and they will no doubt pay for refusing to kowtow.
Another trial in front of a NatSec judge starts – against 76-year-old activist Koo Sze-yiu for ‘sedition’ (planning a protest against the Winter Olympics)…
The court heard that police took a coffin away from Koo’s Cheung Sha Wan home, which had several slogans written on it, including “beat the Communist Party,” “end one-party rule,” “democracy and human rights above Winter Olympics,” and “getting rich just by eating shit under the national security law.”
From France 24 and HKFP, interviews with lawyer Michael Vidler on why he left Hong Kong, pursued by state media…
The last straw for Vidler & Co. came when Stanley Chan, a fiery security judge, named the company six times in a judgement convicting four protesters of unlawful assembly and possession of offensive weapons.
Chan said the firm’s phone number was on some “legal assistance resources” cards found on the defendants, and that the cards “reflected a sense of organisation behind the incidents”.
Jerome Cohen adds…
Also important … was the impact of changes in the government’s Legal Aid scheme designed to reduce the income of those firms that were deemed to be too expert in civil rights defense and handling too many cases challenging the government.
School libraries remove hundreds of books that ‘threaten national security’.
And the police aren’t sure whether it is legal to watch a movie.
Justice mainland style:
When you are locked up for an alleged offense they tell you right away, before you even can call your mom, the starting penalty, which in a commieland is always crazy severe. Say, for a medium serious offense 15 years. Then they tell you to confess ‘to get a lenient sentence’. So you do. End of story. No need to appoint any lawyer to try to defend you. You would only ‘upset the judge’ and forfeit a lenient sentence. And then you get “only” 10 years, and you are expected to be grateful and kiss the judges feet.
Also avoids anybody having to think too much.
Been there….(I paid for a so called defense lawyer, money out of the window )
“Been there….(I paid for a so called defense lawyer, money out of the window )”
Tell us more if possible.
Paying lawyers is indeed money out the window, makes not an iota of difference but provides a veneer of justice being done.
Best policy is to say nothing and pay nothing because the outcome is the same.
Interesting that the masters want a change of Sec for Injustice, are the current boots not sufficiently steel capped?
“Interesting that the masters want a change of Sec for Injustice, are the current boots not sufficiently steel capped?”
She showed wishy washiness early. Feigned illness/injury. Illegal structures. Not a true Defender of the Faith.
And while citizens are handed multi year jail sentences for shouting slogans, etc, the loss of a life is considered to be a mere trifle:
7th June 2022 – (Hong Kong) Hong Chang Construction Foundations (Holdings) Limited was fined HK$45,000 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today for violation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Gas Welding and Flame Cutting) Regulation. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on 25th May, 2021, at a warehouse under demolition in Yuen Long. While a group of workers was demolishing a temporary office, one of them was suspected to have fallen from the office onto the ground. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away on the same day.
All as we are cajoled to respect the legal system …………….
“She showed wishy washiness early. Feigned illness/injury. Illegal structures. Not a true Defender of the Faith”
She can now leave to UK, as she tried to do in 2019, and stay put there for the rest of her useless life
@Mark Bradley
Business in China goes belly up. No way to declare bankruptcy. Suppliers file for 1 million unpaid bills. HK owner on entering China 2 years later arrested. After two weeks in investigative detention allowed to send a letter by regular mail (!) to Mom. In the meantime pushed into making a “confession”. Told that for 1 million of damage starting point is 15 years, with confession divided by two = 7, first offence divided by two = 3.5. And if you are nice to the judge he will get you less. By the time we organized a defense, and settled ALL outstanding bills the bureaucracy had already taken its course. Don’t upset the judge! Sentenced via webcam to 3 years.
Suggested to challenge the starting 15 years for a million damage, which must originate from a time when one million dollar in China was a hell of a lot. Nobody would dare!
We were offered from unknown party to try to bribe the judge. Price tag 100’000 RMB. At that time we still believed in something like a fair process and declined.
She should be forced to live in her illegal structure enhanced hovel in HK for the rest of her miserable, useless life.
Is the Secretary for Justice not sanctioned by the United States, if not the UK?
Regardless, @Hemlock, this was an amazing bunch of links that will undoubtedly clog my open tabs for hours to come.