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Another legal blunder by Hong Kong prosecutors sees charges dropped for suspected protester found with huge explosives cache
- Louis Lo, detained for 93 days for possessing explosives, has charges dropped because police had no consent from secretary for justice
- Suspect remains charged and in custody after prosecutors granted approval to pursue Lo’s case under a new case file
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For the second time in a week, Hong Kong prosecutors have been forced to withdraw charges against defendants arrested over anti-government protests because of what they called a “procedural error”.
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Louis Lo Yat-sun, who has been detained for more than three months on explosives possession, had his charges dropped on Tuesday after it was revealed that police did not receive prior consent for his prosecution from the secretary for justice.
Lo, a 28-year-old member of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Front, remains charged with one count of possession of an explosive substance at West Kowloon Court, after prosecutors applied to continue the prosecution under a new case file.
Section 55(3) of the Crimes Ordinance stipulates that prosecution for possessing explosives cannot proceed without the written consent of the justice secretary.
Similar requirements apply to certain charges as a safeguard to ensure an appropriate level of scrutiny in serious crimes.
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