Teenage activist Tony Chung was sentenced to four months in jail on Tuesday for insulting China’s national flag and unlawful assembly.

Chung, 19, was previously convicted for throwing the national flag to the ground during a confrontation outside the legislature in May 2019. Chung had snatched the flag from government supporters, detached it from its pole and threw it into the air, the court heard.

Magistrate Peony Wong said Chung’s actions could have provoked strong reactions from the government supporters, as the crowd had already been agitated before the incident. But Wong said the threat level was relatively low as no one was injured, and there was no evidence to show the crime was premeditated.

The defense argued that the flag desecration was not serious as the incident lasted for only two minutes, and the flag was undamaged.

The defense added that Chung acted impulsively and had since shown remorse.

In mitigation letters from Chung’s mother, the activist was described as kind-hearted and responsible, who visited his mother weekly after his parents separated. At home, Chung also took care of his brother who had mental disabilities, the court was told.

The defense also submitted mitigation letters from Cardinal Joseph Zen, family relatives, high school teachers and classmates.

Wong sentenced Chung to three months’ imprisonment each for desecrating the national flag and unlawful assembly, to be served concurrently resulting in a total of four months behind bars.

Chung has been remanded in custody since being arrested by plainclothes police opposite the U.S. consulate in October.

He is still awaiting trial on the charge of secession under the national security law, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Chung is one of the four people to be charged under the draconian law, which was imposed by Beijing in June.

Authorities have also charged him with money laundering and conspiring to publish seditious content.

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