Court Grants Bail To Occupy Leader Benny Tai

The Appeal Court has granted bail to Occupy Central founder Benny Tai pending appeal.

Professor Tai was jailed in April for 16 months for public nuisance related convictions related to the Occupy Movement nearly five years ago.

He’s been bailed on HK$100,000.

Before the appeal hearing in late February, he has to surrender his passport, can’t leave Hong Kong unless he gets approval from the court, and stay where he lives.

Granting the bail, the judge noted that the defendant would’ve served all or most of the time in jail before the appeal hearing takes place.

After the judge left, someone in the public gallery shouted “praise the Lord”! leading to applause from the crowd who were there to attend the hearing. Tai waved back to them with a smile.