當年今日
關於我們

Detained duo back in Hong Kong from Shenzhen at last with extra charge in store

蘋果日報 2020/12/30 16:41


Two teenagers who were among 12 Hongkongers held in Shenzhen over a thwarted trip to Taiwan in August finally set foot in their home city on Wednesday morning, with the local police force warning of pressing an extra charge against them for jumping bail and skipping town.
At around 11 a.m., the two suspects, surnamed Liu, 17, and Hoang, 18, were handed over to Hong Kong police from their Shenzhen counterparts at the Shenzhen Bay immigration control point. Chinese prosecutors had spared them from a criminal trial as both were minors at the time of crossing illegally into mainland waters.
Police officers escorted the duo, handcuffed and dressed in gray sportswear with their heads covered, to Tin Shui Wai police station in the New Territories for overnight detention, following which they would observe pandemic restrictions by being placed under 14 days of quarantine.
Earlier, prosecutors in Shenzhen’s Yantian district decided at a private court session not to put the two teens on trial after they pleaded guilty.
Hong Kong police would inform the judiciary that the defendants had been returned to the city and let the courts decide whether to remand them in custody during the 14-day quarantine, Cheng Lai-kei, chief superintendent of the force’s commercial crime bureau, told reporters. The courts previously issued arrest warrants because of their failure to follow bail conditions.
Prior to taking flight, they were already facing prosecution for conspiracy to commit arson, attempted arson and other alleged offenses, she said.
The police were also seeking advice from the Department of Justice concerning the possibility of adding a charge for absconding, Cheng said. Upon conviction, the pair could face up to 12 months in jail and a fine.
The police allowed the two teenagers to contact their families after their arrival at Tin Shui Wai police station, Cheng said, adding that the relatives would be able to visit them.
In Shenzhen, the other 10 defendants received jail sentences ranging from seven months to three years, according to the decisions of the Yantian District People’s Court.
Click here for Chinese version
---------------------------------
Apple Daily’s all-new English Edition is now available on the mobile app: bit.ly/2yMMfQE
To download the latest version,
Or search Appledaily in App Store or Google Play