UPDATED: Retired pastor Chu Yiu-ming gets suspended sentence at Occupy sentencing; Tanya Chan's lawyer reveals lawmaker's life-threatening condition
Chan Kin-man and Benny Tai were both sentenced to 16-months in jail
[UPDATE - Wednesday, April 4, 1.28pm] Retired pastor Chu Yiu-ming, 75, received a suspended sentence, as the judge took into account his age and public service.
Lawmaker Tanya Chan is suffering from a life-threatening illness and needs urgent brain surgery. Her lawyer told the court today that her sentencing would have to be deferred as she is expected to have an operation in two weeks.
Nine pro-democracy activists appeared in court today for their sentencing for crimes related to their part in the Occupy Central protests, which brought key parts of Hong Kong to a standstill for 79 days in 2014.
Others among the nine convicted over their roles in Occupy Central included the three founders: academics Benny Tai Yiu-ting, 54, and Dr Chan Kin-man, 60, as well as Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, 75.
Sociology professor Chan Kin-man, and Tai, a law professor, were both handed 16-month jail sentences
Former student leaders Tommy Cheung Sau-yin, 25, and Eason Chung Yiu-wa, 26; League of Social Democrats vice-chairman Raphael Wong Ho-ming, 30; former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Wing-tat, 63; and legislator Shiu Ka-chun, 49, made up the rest of the group of nine appearing at West Kowloon Court today.
Tanya Chan’s lawyer showed Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng an MRI scan of her brain, asking the court to adjourn the sentencing. The judge then postponed her sentencing to June 10.
The severity of her condition was underscored by exchanges between Ma and the judge, although details were not revealed.
Ma offered on his client’s behalf to surrender her passport as part of the bail condition, only to be questioned by the judge if she could even travel in this state. “Honestly, she cannot,” the barrister replied.
Earlier in the day and before court proceedings commenced, scores of pro-Beijing supporters gathered outside the court building, chanting through loudspeakers: “You have to pay for occupying Central.”
More than 100 people with yellow umbrellas, the symbol of the movement, had also awaited the arrival of the nine on the ground floor of the court building. Some wore yellow T-shirts with the words “I was not incited”, in defiance of court findings that the group had incited others to block roads during the protest.