Au Nok-hin Given Jail Term Over Loudhailer Assaults

Former lawmaker Au Nok-hin was on Tuesday given a nine-week prison term for assaulting two police officers with a loudhailer, after the government appealed against the community service order he was originally given.

Au, who was already in custody after being charged under the national security law, shouted "Don't despair, there's hope tomorrow" before he was escorted out of the courtroom.

He was originally given 140 hours of community service after he was found guilty of the assaults, which occurred during a standoff between protesters and police in Mong Kok on July 8, 2019.

Au hit an officer's shield with the loudhailer, while another policeman complained that the device hurt his ears because it was so loud.

Prosecutors said the lower court had underestimated the seriousness of the crimes and there were no special circumstances that ruled out a custodial sentence.

They argued that Au only showed remorse over the foul language he shouted at officers, not over the assaults.

The defence, meanwhile, said Au was just trying to communicate with the police to resolve the conflict and he became agitated after some reporters fell down as the police advanced.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the prosecution, saying the trial magistrate had been wrong in principle and had passed a sentence that was too lenient.

The appeal court said a jail term is appropriate, due to the seriousness of the offences and to protect police officers who are carrying out their duties.