Jail sentences for duo in Hong Kong 12 case too severe, mainland lawyers say
The sentences for two of the 12 Hong Kong activists who have been detained for months in mainland China were too severe, lawyers appointed by their families said.
Tang Kai-yin was sentenced on Wednesday by the Yantian District People’s Court in Shenzhen to three years in jail over a charge of organizing an illegal border crossing. Quinn Moon was jailed for two years over the same charge. They were also fined 20,000 yuan (US$3,060) and 15,000 yuan, respectively.
Tang and Quinn have been held alongside 10 other Hong Kong activists in mainland China since being caught by Chinese coast guards during an attempted escape to Taiwan in August.
Their punishment was more severe than expected, one of the mainland lawyers appointed by the families of the 12 Hongkongers told Apple Daily.
Since the particulars of the duo’s offences were unavailable, it remained unclear whether their actions were enough to substantiate the charge of organizing an illegal border crossing, the lawyer said.
If what they did was no more than buying and driving the boat used in their attempted escape, they could only be considered as having played a major role in facilitating the escape, the lawyer said. “The jail terms for two to three years were on the severe side,” he said, adding that a suspended term could have been applied to Quinn’s case.
Eight other Hongkongers tied to the case were each sentenced to seven months in jail and fined 10,000 yuan over charges of illegally entering mainland Chinese waters.
Those who have been sentenced can file an appeal against the verdict in the court within 10 days. The Shenzhen Intermediate Peoples’ Court is required to handle their appeal within two months, the lawyer said.
If they do not appeal, Tang and Moon will be transferred to prison, likely in Guangdong, while the other eight are expected to serve their sentences in detention centers, the lawyer said.
Which prisons or detention centers they will be moved to will be kept in strict confidence, the lawyer said. Their families will be notified of their locations only after the 10 have been transferred to the facilities.
It was common practice for inmates in China to be sent to prisons near their hometowns to make it easier for their families to visit, another lawyer appointed by the families said.
Foreigners are usually sent to Dongguan, while women go to Guangzhou’s Baiyun district, which houses the province’s only female prison, the lawyer said.
The eight who were sentenced to seven-month terms are expected to be able to return to Hong Kong on Mar. 24, the lawyer added.
Two remaining Hongkongers, who are underage, were handed over to the Hong Kong police by their Shenzhen counterparts after Chinese prosecutors decided not to put them on trial.
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