Former School Teacher Jailed For Kneeing Policeman

A former primary school teacher has been sentenced to nine weeks in prison after he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer last November, but he has been released on bail pending an appeal.

Fanling Magistrates' court heard that Yeung Pok-man, 29, kneed an officer in the stomach when he was stopped in Sheung Shui on November 11 last year for driving his car too slowly.

There had been online calls for road blockades that day, and protests took place across Hong Kong.

In mitigation, the defendant's lawyer said Yeung had been laid off by the primary school where he worked.

The lawyer said the headmaster there described his client as a passionate teacher, who had been helpful to his students.

But Magistrate Debbie Ng said assaulting the police is a serious offence and the court had to send a message to the public that officers carrying out their duties must be protected.

Ng said she had considered over and over again whether to send Yeung to prison, taking into account that his parents both have chronic illnesses, and that he is a pillar of his family.

But she said Yeung had not shown any remorse.

It was back in June that the defendant was found guilty and the magistrate sent him to Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre pending sentencing, saying she was concerned he may have a personality disorder.

But he was only there a week before the High Court ordered that he be released.