A Hong Kong activist who was attacked by seven police officers during mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014 was jailed Tuesday after he dropped an appeal bid.
Ken Tsang was found guilty last year of assaulting and resisting officers during the “Umbrella Movement” protests which brought parts of the city to a standstill for more than two months.
The incident happened on the same night that Tsang was later beaten and kicked by a group of officers in a park — an assault that was captured by local TV cameras and beamed around the world, denting the image of the city’s police force.
Seven officers were jailed for two years in February for assault causing actual bodily harm, but were acquitted of a more serious charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.
Tsang himself had already been sentenced to five weeks in prison last May after being found guilty of splashing liquid on police during the street rallies.
He immediately appealed and was bailed, but Tuesday dropped the appeal bid.
“After today’s legal proceedings are over, I will immediately serve my sentence,” Tsang, 41, told reporters and around 20 supporters outside the High Court Tuesday.
“I understand that some things I did that night may not be tolerated by the law. I need to take responsibility for my actions,” he added, saying that the liquid he splashed on police was water.
Police have been criticised for their sometimes heavy-handed treatment of protesters during the “Umbrella Movement’s” mainly peaceful 79 days of rallies and street blockades.
The demonstrators were seeking fully free elections for semi-autonomous Hong Kong’s future leaders.
The judge who jailed the seven officers who attacked Tsang described their assault as “vicious” and said it had damaged the city’s reputation.
But tens of thousands of people gathered to show their support for the jailed officers following their sentencing last month.
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