A pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmaker who was removed from parliament after a Beijing intervention was yesterday cleared of misconduct in a case he described as politically motivated.
League of Social Democrats veteran activist Leung Kwok-hung (梁國雄) — known as “Long Hair” — had been charged by the territory’s corruption bureau over a payment received while in public office from a high-profile anti-Beijing media tycoon.
He was accused of “willfully and intentionally” failing to declare HK$250,000 (US$32,006) from Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai (黎智英) between 2012 and last year.
Photo: AFP
Judge Alex Lee yesterday acquitted him “on benefit of doubt,” saying the prosecution had failed to prove the money was a personal payment to Leung in his capacity as lawmaker, rather than a payment to his party.
Leung had received the payment into his personal bank account, but the defense argued it was a party donation, which meant it would not need to be declared.
“Despite the suspicions I have of the defendant’s conduct, I am not satisfied that the prosecution has proven its case against him beyond reasonable doubt,” Lee said in the judgement.
Leung’s trial came at a time when many fear semi-autonomous Hong Kong’s freedoms are under threat from Chinese authorities.
Two weeks ago, he was one of four pro-democracy legislators disqualified from parliament by the Hong Kong High Court over changing their oaths of office to reflect their frustrations with Chinese authorities last year.
Their removal came after an unprecedented intervention from Beijing demanding oaths be taken in a “solemn and sincere” manner.
A number of leading democracy campaigners are facing court cases, including over their participation in 2014’s mass pro-democracy “Umbrella movement.”
After his acquittal, Leung, 61, raised his arms outside the district court as supporters gathered around him.
“I hope the democracy camp will continue to stand firm in the coming years,” Leung said, wearing a T-shirt bearing the words “civil disobedience.”
However, he said the ruling did not convince him that the territory’s judiciary was safe, describing it as “under attack” by political forces.
Leung’s activism has landed him in jail several times.
In 2014, he spent four weeks behind bars for criminal damage and disorderly behavior during a political protest, and in 2002, he was jailed for two weeks after protesting inside the Legislative Council chambers before he became a lawmaker.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique