Ted Hui sues officer who shot student

Ted Hui sues officer who shot student

Ted Hui (right) filed his private prosecution against policeman Kwan Ka-wing on Thursday. Photo: RTHK

Damon Pang reports

Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui on Thursday filed a private prosecution against a policeman who shot a student in the abdomen with live ammunition in Sai Wan Ho on November 11.



Hui is accusing Kwan Ka-wing of either attempted murder, or shooting with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.



Both offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.



Speaking to the media outside Eastern Court, Hui said he is taking the action to obtain justice and to keep the police force in check.



He stressed that he is not targeting the force as a whole, but doesn't want to see any officers who have committed crimes going unpunished.



"We are in a system where we find police officers free of punishment when they actually committed a crime," the lawmaker said.



"The government is not prosecuting, so we want him to be [held] accountable."



Hui added that although evidence has been collected, it is up to a court to decide whether Kwan is guilty.



The legislator has three witnesses lined up for his case. These do not include the 21-year-old who was shot, Chow Pak-kwan.



Hui said this is because the police could quiz the student – who was arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly – and use his words against him to press further charges.



Chow was critically ill for a time after the shooting and underwent surgery to remove his right kidney and part of his liver.



It's now up to Eastern Court to set a date to hear the case, and if the magistrate decides that the policeman has a case to answer, a summons will be issued for him to appear in court.