The first suspect to appear in court in connection with the violent protests against the controversial extradition bill has accused Hong Kong police of assaulting him, denying him food, and threatening him.Pun Ho-chiu, 31, known as “Occupy Mong Kok Painter” for his participation in the 2014 movement for greater democracy, made his first court appearance on Friday, two days after he was arrested on suspicion of taking part in the 15-hour siege of police headquarters last month.Eastern Court heard Pun was accused of assaulting eight officers, vandalising police property and insulting behaviour, when protesters surrounded the station in protest at what they claim was the use of excessive force during violent clashes outside the legislature on June 12.Defence counsel Tang Ho-ching complained officers did not caution his client nor tell him what he was being arrested for before handcuffing and masking him.Pun then accused officers at the police station of twice assaulting him by touching his genitals during a body search, depriving him of meals, and issuing threats in both Cantonese and Mandarin, which made him think he was being addressed by a mainland Chinese public security officer.Tang said Pun was told: “Young man, see you on the mainland if you don’t follow orders.”Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen recorded these complaints, but said courts were not the proper place to handle issues with the police.“We exercise judicial independence,” Law said. “There are administrative channels to handle dissatisfaction towards the police. I must state this clearly.”Pun, who said he had no fixed abode, faces three charges: assaulting police, criminal damage and behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place.Prosecutors alleged that Pun assaulted officers Chan Tsz-hin, Diana Thumb, Fong Chi-yeung, Leung Cheuk-hei, Lo Cheuk-kei, Lo Wai-tung, Man Chun-wan, and Yip Kai-chau in the due execution of their duties outside Wan Chai police station on Arsenal Street on June 21. Protester who stormed Hong Kong’s legislature reveals his side of storyPun was also accused of damaging the walls and escalators of the station without lawful excuse, and carrying out conducts likely to cause a breach of peace.Such conduct included shouting foul language, abusive, insulting words, making offensive gestures at police officers, and appealing for other protesters to provide him with more eggs to throw at police.All of the above were said to have taken place at around 8pm, according to court documents.Pun said he understood the charges, but he was not required to enter a plea as prosecutors needed more time to conduct identification parades, which are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday.Fifteen police officers will be asked to identify Pun in the line-ups.Pun also needed more time to consult his lawyer, and applied for bail. His counsel said he should be remanded in jail instead of police custody if bail was refused, in light of his earlier complaints. Hong Kong leader’s advisers dismiss idea of amnesty for all protestersThe magistrate eventually denied bail after prosecutors objected, but agreed to the defence application for Pun to stay with the correctional services.The case will return to the same court on August 2, but Pun is expected to be back in court on July 12 to renew his bail application.Of the three charges, criminal damage carries the heaviest maximum penalty of 10 years’ in prison.Assaulting police is punishable by a two-year jail term, while that of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place is capped at 12 months, plus a maximum HK$5,000 fine.This article Hong Kong protest suspect claims police assaulted him, denied him food and threatened him, court hears first appeared on South China Morning PostFor the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019.

The first suspect to appear in court in connection with the violent protests against the controversial extradition bill has accused Hong Kong police of assaulting him, denying him food, and threatening him.

Pun Ho-chiu, 31, known as “Occupy Mong Kok Painter” for his participation in the 2014 movement for greater democracy, made his first court appearance on Friday, two days after he was arrested on suspicion of taking part in the 15-hour siege of police headquarters last month.

Eastern Court heard Pun was accused of assaulting eight officers, vandalising police property and insulting behaviour, when protesters surrounded the station in protest at what they claim was the use of excessive force during violent clashes outside the legislature on June 12.

Defence counsel Tang Ho-ching complained officers did not caution his client nor tell him what he was being arrested for before handcuffing and masking him.

Pun then accused officers at the police station of twice assaulting him by touching his genitals during a body search, depriving him of meals, and issuing threats in both Cantonese and Mandarin, which made him think he was being addressed by a mainland Chinese public security officer.

Tang said Pun was told: “Young man, see you on the mainland if you don’t follow orders.”

Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen recorded these complaints, but said courts were not the proper place to handle issues with the police.

“We exercise judicial independence,” Law said. “There are administrative channels to handle dissatisfaction towards the police. I must state this clearly.”

Pun, who said he had no fixed abode, faces three charges: assaulting police, criminal damage and behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place.

Prosecutors alleged that Pun assaulted officers Chan Tsz-hin, Diana Thumb, Fong Chi-yeung, Leung Cheuk-hei, Lo Cheuk-kei, Lo Wai-tung, Man Chun-wan, and Yip Kai-chau in the due execution of their duties outside Wan Chai police station on Arsenal Street on June 21.

Pun was also accused of damaging the walls and escalators of the station without lawful excuse, and carrying out conducts likely to cause a breach of peace.

Such conduct included shouting foul language, abusive, insulting words, making offensive gestures at police officers, and appealing for other protesters to provide him with more eggs to throw at police.

All of the above were said to have taken place at around 8pm, according to court documents.

Pun said he understood the charges, but he was not required to enter a plea as prosecutors needed more time to conduct identification parades, which are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday.

Fifteen police officers will be asked to identify Pun in the line-ups.

Pun also needed more time to consult his lawyer, and applied for bail. His counsel said he should be remanded in jail instead of police custody if bail was refused, in light of his earlier complaints.

The magistrate eventually denied bail after prosecutors objected, but agreed to the defence application for Pun to stay with the correctional services.

The case will return to the same court on August 2, but Pun is expected to be back in court on July 12 to renew his bail application.

Of the three charges, criminal damage carries the heaviest maximum penalty of 10 years’ in prison.

Assaulting police is punishable by a two-year jail term, while that of behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place is capped at 12 months, plus a maximum HK$5,000 fine.

This article Hong Kong protest suspect claims police assaulted him, denied him food and threatened him, court hears first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019.