Advertisement

Former Hong Kong police officer granted bail in sedition case linked to alleged online comments about inspector killed at sea

  • Chui Chun-man, 26, appears at West Kowloon Court following his arrest by the police force’s cyber security and technology crime bureau
  • He is alleged to have made online comments about death of officer killed at sea during anti-smuggling operation

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Emergency services search for Lam Yuen-yee in September. Photo: Winson Wong
A national security law magistrate has granted bail to a former Hong Kong police officer charged with seditious intent over online comments he allegedly made about a chief inspector killed on duty.
Advertisement

Chui Chun-man, 26, appeared at West Kowloon Court on Friday afternoon following his arrest by the force’s cyber security and technology crime bureau the previous day in Sha Tin.

He was charged with doing an act or acts with a seditious intention, an offence punishable by two years’ jail and a HK$5,000 fine for a first conviction under the Crimes Ordinance.

Acting chief magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen said the stringent threshold for bail under the Beijing-imposed national security legislation also applied in the present case, but he granted the defendant’s application despite prosecutors’ objections.

Top officials attend the funeral of Lam Yuen-yee. Photo: Sam Tsang
Top officials attend the funeral of Lam Yuen-yee. Photo: Sam Tsang
Advertisement

Chui, who sat in the dock with his head down, wept upon hearing the magistrate’s decision.

Advertisement