The Occupy activist nicknamed “Eric the Artist” was released on Monday after serving a three-week backdated sentence for indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
The 28-year-old designer, Pun Wan-tong, was a regular at Mong Kok during the pro-democracy Occupy movement last year. Pun approached the victim at Fa Yuen Street Public Library in Mong Kok this June, on the pretext of teaching her how to draw.
The defendant admitted the charge and was sentenced to three weeks in jail. As he had already been held in detention for over five weeks, he was released from Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre after the sentencing at Kowloon Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The defendant touched X’s hand several times and later took her by the hand, saying that he wanted to take her to have a look at drawing tools. He kissed the victim on the lips when they were on the escalators and tried to hug her but was pushed away. X’s friends then asked security for help. The police arrived and arrested the defendant at the scene.
The prosecution said that the defendant had 27 offences on his criminal record, including having unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl. Counsel for the defence asked the judge to take into account the fact that the defendant could not engage in physically demanding work after a traffic accident, and now had to rely on social welfare and selling paintings for a living.
The defence also submitted a letter of plea from Father Franco Mella, who said that he had become acquainted with the defendant during the Occupy movement. The priest said Pun was a kind man and promised to help the defendant correct his ways.
An earlier version this article appeared as “Occupy artist jailed for three weeks for indecent assault.”
