Five Re-arrested, Face Rioting Charge Over Vandalism

Police said on Thursday that they have re-arrested five people and charged them with rioting, more than a year after they were first detained in connection with vandalism at an MTR station in Tuen Mun during the anti-government protests.

The force said three men and two women, aged between 15 and 33, were charged with rioting and using facial covering during a riot.

Two of them were also charged with possessing objects with the intent to destroy or damage property.

The five are a secondary school student, two university students, a real estate agent and a salesman.

Chief inspector Mo Siu-hei said about 100 protesters vandalised facilities at the Siu Hong station and its adjacent Light Rail stop with hammers, metal bars and other hard objects on the night of October 7 last year.

He said their action led to damage worth HK$1 million and posed a serious threat to people’s safety.

He said the five were among 10 people arrested by officers at the scene that night.

The five were released unconditionally after refusing bail, but Mo said police continued their investigation and arrested them again after consulting the Department of Justice.

He said the probe is still under way and did not rule out further arrests.

The five suspects will appear at Tuen Mun Magistracy for mention on Friday morning. Police say they will make an application for the case to be transferred to the District Court.