A retired couple was found guilty of snatching a female protestor’s phone and groping her breasts three times during the Occupy Mong Kok movement in October 2014.
The judge did not rule out the possibility of imprisonment, which will be decided at the sentencing hearing on July 14. The couple is currently free on bail.
Chan Nam-sing, 72 and his wife, So Suet-ling, 65, performed the acts to vent their disapproval against the female protester. The female protester used her mobile phone to record footage of the couple provoking fellow protesters, in an attempt to stop them from doing so, the court was told.
So snatched the mobile phone from the female protester, while Chan pushed her on the breasts repeatedly. They were charged with common assault and indecent assault respectively.
In rejecting statements of the accused, the judge said that the couple skirted around questions and responded inconsistently during cross-examination. The judge pointed out that So had no right to seize the victim’s phone even if she did not wish to be shot on camera. The judge also ruled that Chan’s repeated groping of the victim’s breasts showed an evident lewd intent.
The judge added that Chan’s view was unobstructed, therefore it was impossible for him to be unaware of his actions.
The accused defended themselves, and said that their presence at the protest site was entirely coincidental. Chan informed the court that he is suffering from liver cancer, and pleaded for the court to grant them non-custodial sentences. However, the judge questioned: “How can you serve a community service order with your physical condition?”
The court will obtain background reports prior to their sentencing hearing in July.
