Protesters In Court Over Damaged Traffic Lights

Eastern Court has heard the cases of five people charged with damaging traffic lights in Tsuen Wan during an anti-extradition protest on Monday.

The four males and one female, aged between 22 and 32, face criminal damage charges. Two of them are also accused of failing to provide the police with identification documents.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants damaged traffic lights in the early hours of Monday – ahead of a general strike calling for the complete withdrawal of the extradition law bill and an independent probe into the police's handling of recent protests.

Three of the five appeared in court on Wednesday, but no pleas were taken and they were released on bail of HK$1,000 and given curfews.

Their cases were adjourned until October 2.

Two other defendants, a male university student and a self-employed female, were being treated in Yan Chai Hospital and were not expected to make their first court appearances until Friday.

Meanwhile, a 49-year-old cleaner appeared in Kowloon City Court accused of obstructing police officers who were trying to get hold of a protester in Sham Shui Po on Monday night.

A prosecutor told the court that the man had stood between the protester and the officers with his arms open, which gave the protester time to run away.

The man’s lawyer asked that his client be released on bail so he could continue to work his night shifts, arguing that he may well have just been a passerby as he was wearing a pair of slippers, rather than a helmet and mask as worn by many protesters.

The magistrate released the man on bail of HK$1,000 and banned him from leaving Hong Kong. He was due to appear in court again on October 2.