Ex-museum Staff Jailed Six Months For 'tip-off' Photo

A former history museum worker has been jailed for six months for posting a photo of police officers online during the siege of the Polytechnic University in November 2019.

Kowloon City Court on Friday convicted Chan Chi-wah, 44, of obstructing police.

To go with the picture taken from the museum, the court heard that he had also recorded a clip telling "brothers" to be careful.

Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi said at the time, "brothers" must have meant fellow protesters, and the defendant was tipping them off about where the special duty unit officers were.

He said the 44-year-old must have known the photo would go viral, adding that what he did had delayed police tactics.

Cheng said the PolyU siege – amid the height of the anti-government protests – greatly affected public order, and the sooner order could be restored, the better.

The magistrate rejected mitigation from the defence that Chan was remorseful, saying he didn't plead guilty.

The defendant was taken into custody after his request for bail pending appeal was rejected.