Charge Against One Legco Storming Suspect Dropped

Prosecutors have dropped charges against one of the 15 defendants in connection with the storming of Legco on July 1 last year, after telling the court all the evidence they had against the suspect was a paper they found with his fingerprint.

At a hearing in the Eastern Court, nine of the suspects were granted bail as the case was adjourned to August 3 for the prosecution to transfer the trial to the District Court. Two didn't apply for bail and three were not present.

Chow Lok-him had originally faced a charge of illegally entering the Legco chamber when anti-government protesters stormed the complex and vandalised the chambers and other areas.

The prosecutor told the magistrate that they had decided to drop the charge, because a piece of paper containing the defendant’s fingerprint found in the Legco dining hall was all the evidence they had against him.

Despite dropping the charge, the prosecutor said the defendant brought suspicion on himself because of the discovery of the fingerprint there, and so he should pay the legal cost.

But Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai didn’t accept his argument and ruled that the prosecution had to pay.

The defendants who got bail, including actor Gregory Wong, activist Ventus Lau and former University of Hong Kong student leader Anthea Suen, were told in the court they now face an additional rioting charge, in addition to illegally entering the Legco chamber.

The court heard that one defendant, Man Ka-kin, couldn’t be reached and the magistrate then issued a warrant for his arrest.

Two other defendants, former HKU student leader Brian Leung and Fan Chung-man, who each face one charge of illegally entering the Legco chamber, also didn't show up.

Leung had returned to the US to continue his studies. In a message he tweeted out on Tuesday, Leung hinted he may return to the city to face the charges.