Five CUHK Students Jailed Over 2019 Riots

Five Chinese University students were on Tuesday sentenced to up to four years and 11 months in prison, after they were convicted of rioting at the institution two years ago.

The five, aged 20 to 23, were arrested amid violent clashes between protesters and police officers at the No 2 Bridge on the university's campus on November 11, 2019.

Lau Chun-yuk, Ko Chi-pan, Chan Lik-sik and Hui Yi-chuen were jailed for four years and nine months, while Foo Hoi-ching who was prosecuted while on bail over another case, received an extra two months.

They were also found guilty of breaching the face mask ban, while Foo and Hui were convicted of an extra charge of possessing offensive weapons or instruments fit for unlawful purposes.

Deputy district judge Kathie Cheung said deterrent sentences were called for, because a society with the rule of law does not allow violence against law enforcement officers.

She said the defendants must have intended to join or encourage protesters at the scene, because they showed up in dark-coloured clothes and protective gear even though they must have already heard about the riots from media reports.

The judge agreed with the prosecution who likened the scene to a battlefield, noting that petrol bombs were thrown towards the police.

During mitigation pleas, some defendants expressed regret, while others insisted on their innocence.

Foo, who was representing herself, said the courts had disregarded the cause of the riots and did not focus on the fundamental reasons for the social unrest.

The judge acknowledged that the punishments would affect the students' studies and their future, but did not accept any mitigation besides their young ages and good backgrounds.