This general view shows the High Court building in Hong Kong on August 17, 2017. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s High Court on Friday rejected the appeals filed by nine opposition leaders against their convictions for their roles in the illegal Occupy movement in 2014.
The nine, including the movement’s three founders – Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming – were convicted of conspiracy to cause public nuisance and inciting others to commit public nuisance, and received sentences ranging from a 16-month jail term to social service orders in April 2019.
The court also rejected Tai’s and activist Raphael Wong Ho-ming’s appeals against their prison sentences.
During the “Occupy Central” movement, thousands of protesters blocked Admiralty, one of the city’s busiest business district for 79 days, resulting in violent confrontations and massive public disorder.
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Tai and Chan were sentenced to 16-month jail terms while Chu had his 16-month sentence suspended due to his health concerns.
Tai was granted bail in August 2019, but is currently remanded to custody over a national security case in which he is suspected of organizing a so-called primary election in 2020.
The other co-defendants include Tanya Chan, Shiu Ka-chun, Lee Wing-tat, Tommy Cheung Sau-yin and Eason Chung Yiu-wa.