Offensive Graffiti Targets 'pro-protester' Judge

The police say they are investigating after offensive graffiti targeting a former magistrate who has been accused of bias towards protesters was spray-painted onto walls in Kowloon Tong.

The graffiti, outside homes on Marconi Road, was reported at about 10pm on Tuesday and is being classified as a case of criminal damage. No one has been arrested.

It targeted Stanley Ho, a former Eastern Court magistrate who was strongly criticised by Beijing-loyalist politicians and publications after he cleared defendants of protest-related offences and made scathing criticisms of evidence submitted by police officers. It referred to him as a "dog judge".

Earlier this month, the Chief Magistrate concluded that complaints against Ho over his adjudication of six cases were not substantiated. Two other complaints are still pending legal proceedings.

"The decisions and sentences ... were judicial decisions made independently by the magistrate," the Judiciary said, adding that it would not interfere with any judicial decisions.

Ho was appointed a temporary Deputy Registrar of the High Court on July 31 and took over that job last month. The Judiciary said the transfer had nothing to do with his rulings.

His duties now include assisting the Criminal Listing Judge in the listing and procedural matters of criminal cases in the High Court.