Court Photo Taker Jailed For Seven Days

A mainland woman was jailed for seven days on Monday after being found guilty of criminal contempt of court for taking photos during a trial. Tang Lin-ling was also ordered to pay legal costs amounting to HK$197,000.

During her brief trial, Tang said she couldn't remember whether she had taken photos from the public gallery during an Occupy protest-related hearing last month.

But High Court judge Andrew Chan said he didn't buy that claim, and he accepted the evidence of three witnesses who said they had seen Tang taking the pictures with her mobile.

He said if Tang was, as she claimed, a master's graduate from Sydney University and if she really had achieved top marks in a mainland legal exam last year, then her memory wouldn't be so disappointing.

Chan said he accepted her claim that she hadn't deliberately tried to obstruct the administration of justice. But he said that is exactly what had happened, with the Occupy trial he was presiding over grounding to a halt.

He said restrictions on photography in court must be strictly enforced to protect the privacy of jurors and witnesses, because if any photos end up in the wrong hands, their safety could be compromised.

After sentencing, Tang asked for compensation, saying she had been "illegal detained" for four days before her conviction.

But the judge rejected her demand, saying "this is not the mainland".

Ordering her to pay the legal costs of HK$197,000, Chan said "Very expensive photographs, Ms Tang. You may be clever but next time, be wise."

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