Man Acquitted After Being Caught With A Lighter

A 23-year-old man has been acquitted of possessing an instrument fit for unlawful purpose and possessing items with intent to destroy or damage property, after police found him carrying a lighter, some plastic straps and paint spray.

Police seized the items from Li Cheuk-lam in Tsim Sha Tsui on Christmas Eve last year, a night which saw various anti-government protests around the territory.

But at Kowloon City Court on Tuesday, magistrate June Cheung accepted Li's argument that the lighter was meant as a Christmas gift, noting that it was beautifully wrapped in a box and was valued at around HK$400.

She added that the prosecution had not provided any evidence to prove that Li was participating in an unauthorised assembly at the time.

The magistrate also said she could not accept the police’s testimony because it contradicted CCTV footage that was played in court.

She said while the officer had claimed that Li appeared to be suspicious and was anxiously looking around prior to his arrest, that was simply not the case according to the surveillance video.

In fact, she said, the defendent had lost his balance and fell after being knocked over by the police.