Latest news with #JackieChen
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Social worker imprisoned nearly 4 years for mediation attempts at Hong Kong protests
HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong social worker was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison Wednesday on a charge of riot for her role in the 2019 anti-government movement, in a case that signals the authorities' stern approach to protest-related acts. Jackie Chen was among a group of social workers who often carried a loudspeaker seeking to mediate between police and protesters during the often-violent social unrest. While she had been acquitted in her first trial in September 2020, prosecutors successfully appealed the verdict. She was convicted following a retrial. In March, judge May Chung rejected Chen's claim of being a mediator in her verdict. She said Chen had continuously shouted unfounded accusations against the police during a protest in August 2019 and had used her social worker role, claiming to be 'safeguarding justice,' to back the protesters. Handing down the sentence on Wednesday, Chung noted Chen did not resort to violence at the scene, but her sentencing would have to consider what the whole crowd was doing at the site. She pointed to the serious circumstances of the riot. The judge initially set the sentence at 5 years but reduced it after considering factors like the pressure facing Chen over the long legal proceedings and her contribution as a social worker. In Chen's mitigation letter posted by local media, she said 2019 was a crucial turning point in her life, with many social workers wanting to provide emotional support during the protests. She said even though she knew the government had planned to appeal against her acquittal in the first trial, she never thought of leaving the city because she wanted to continue her service for the people who are in need. She said she felt especially guilty toward her 75-year-old mother, whose health has deteriorated in recent years. She hoped the judge could allow her to reunite with her family earlier. 'Although many people say I am a good social worker, I am truly an unfilial daughter,' she wrote. When she entered the courtroom, her supporters in the public gallery waved at her. She smiled and nodded back. The social worker's conviction drew attention because of her mild role in the 2019 protests. The movement, sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill, was the biggest challenge to the Hong Kong government since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Chen could also lose her social worker license. Last year, the government amended the law to allow the removal of a social worker's name from the register if he or she has been convicted of an offense that is punishable with imprisonment and may bring the profession into disrepute. In the same hearing, three other defendants received jail terms of two years and five months each for rioting. They had been initially acquitted but the government successfully appealed. They then chose to plead guilty.
The Hill
09-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Social worker imprisoned nearly 4 years for mediation attempts at Hong Kong protests
HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong social worker was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison Wednesday on a charge of riot for her role in the 2019 anti-government movement, in a case that signals the authorities' stern approach to protest-related acts. Jackie Chen was among a group of social workers who often carried a loudspeaker seeking to mediate between police and protesters during the often-violent social unrest. While she had been acquitted in her first trial in September 2020, prosecutors successfully appealed the verdict. She was convicted following a retrial. In March, judge May Chung rejected Chen's claim of being a mediator in her verdict. She said Chen had continuously shouted unfounded accusations against the police during a protest in August 2019 and had used her social worker role, claiming to be 'safeguarding justice,' to back the protesters. Handing down the sentence on Wednesday, Chung noted Chen did not resort to violence at the scene, but her sentencing would have to consider what the whole crowd was doing at the site. She pointed to the serious circumstances of the riot. The judge initially set the sentence at 5 years but reduced it after considering factors like the pressure facing Chen over the long legal proceedings and her contribution as a social worker. In Chen's mitigation letter posted by local media, she said 2019 was a crucial turning point in her life, with many social workers wanting to provide emotional support during the protests. She said even though she knew the government had planned to appeal against her acquittal in the first trial, she never thought of leaving the city because she wanted to continue her service for the people who are in need. She said she felt especially guilty toward her 75-year-old mother, whose health has deteriorated in recent years. She hoped the judge could allow her to reunite with her family earlier. 'Although many people say I am a good social worker, I am truly an unfilial daughter,' she wrote. When she entered the courtroom, her supporters in the public gallery waved at her. She smiled and nodded back. The social worker's conviction drew attention because of her mild role in the 2019 protests. The movement, sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill, was the biggest challenge to the Hong Kong government since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Chen could also lose her social worker license. Last year, the government amended the law to allow the removal of a social worker's name from the register if he or she has been convicted of an offense that is punishable with imprisonment and may bring the profession into disrepute. In the same hearing, three other defendants received jail terms of two years and five months each for rioting. They had been initially acquitted but the government successfully appealed. They then chose to plead guilty.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Social worker imprisoned nearly 4 years for mediation attempts at Hong Kong protests
A Hong Kong social worker was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison Wednesday on a charge of riot for her role in the 2019 anti-government movement, in a case that signals the authorities' stern approach to protest-related acts. Jackie Chen was among a group of social workers who often carried a loudspeaker seeking to mediate between police and protesters during the often-violent social unrest. While she had been acquitted in her first trial in September 2020, prosecutors successfully appealed the verdict. She was convicted following a retrial. In March, judge May Chung rejected Chen's claim of being a mediator in her verdict. She said Chen had continuously shouted unfounded accusations against the police during a protest in August 2019 and had used her social worker role, claiming to be 'safeguarding justice,' to back the protesters. Handing down the sentence on Wednesday, Chung noted Chen did not resort to violence at the scene, but her sentencing would have to consider what the whole crowd was doing at the site. In Chen's mitigation letter posted by local media, she said 2019 was a crucial turning point in her life, with many social workers wanting to provide emotional support during the protests. She said even though she knew the government had planned to appeal against her acquittal in the first trial, she never thought of leaving the city because she wanted to continue her service for the people who are in need. She said she felt especially guilty toward her 75-year-old mother, whose health has deteriorated in recent years. She hoped the judge could allow her to reunite with her family earlier. 'Although many people say I am a good social worker, I am truly an unfilial daughter,' she wrote. When she entered the courtroom, her supporters in the public gallery waved at her. She smiled and nodded back. The social worker's conviction drew attention because of her mild role in the 2019 protests. The movement, sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill, was the biggest challenge to the Hong Kong government since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Chen could also lose her social worker license. Last year, the government amended the law to allow the removal of a social worker's name from the register if he or she has been convicted of an offense that is punishable with imprisonment and may bring the profession into disrepute. In the same hearing, three other defendants received jail terms of two years and five months each for rioting. They had been initially acquitted but the government successfully appealed. They then chose to plead guilty.
Associated Press
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Social worker imprisoned nearly 4 years for mediation attempts at Hong Kong protests
HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong social worker was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison Wednesday on a charge of riot for her role in the 2019 anti-government movement, in a case that signals the authorities' stern approach to protest-related acts. Jackie Chen was among a group of social workers who often carried a loudspeaker seeking to mediate between police and protesters during the often-violent social unrest. While she had been acquitted in her first trial in September 2020, prosecutors successfully appealed the verdict. She was convicted following a retrial. In March, judge May Chung rejected Chen's claim of being a mediator in her verdict. She said Chen had continuously shouted unfounded accusations against the police during a protest in August 2019 and had used her social worker role, claiming to be 'safeguarding justice,' to back the protesters. Handing down the sentence on Wednesday, Chung noted Chen did not resort to violence at the scene, but her sentencing would have to consider what the whole crowd was doing at the site. In Chen's mitigation letter posted by local media, she said 2019 was a crucial turning point in her life, with many social workers wanting to provide emotional support during the protests. She said even though she knew the government had planned to appeal against her acquittal in the first trial, she never thought of leaving the city because she wanted to continue her service for the people who are in need. She said she felt especially guilty toward her 75-year-old mother, whose health has deteriorated in recent years. She hoped the judge could allow her to reunite with her family earlier. 'Although many people say I am a good social worker, I am truly an unfilial daughter,' she wrote. When she entered the courtroom, her supporters in the public gallery waved at her. She smiled and nodded back. The social worker's conviction drew attention because of her mild role in the 2019 protests. The movement, sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill, was the biggest challenge to the Hong Kong government since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Chen could also lose her social worker license. Last year, the government amended the law to allow the removal of a social worker's name from the register if he or she has been convicted of an offense that is punishable with imprisonment and may bring the profession into disrepute.
Reuters
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Hong Kong court convicts social worker for rioting at retrial
HONG KONG, March 11 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court convicted on Tuesday prominent social worker Jackie Chen of rioting, following a retrial after the government appealed against her initial acquittal. Chen pleaded not guilty and declined to testify during her retrial on a rioting charge related to an incident in 2019 when she used a megaphone to urge police to exercise restraint as pro-democracy protests swirled in the China-ruled city. "Don't worry. Take care of yourselves," Chen, clad in white sweatshirt and trousers, told relatives and supporters after Deputy District Judge May Chung found her guilty, following the retrial ordered by the Court of Appeal. In her verdict, Chung said she considered Chen's remarks would "indeed encourage the protesters to continue to confront the police" and "encourage them to continue to engage in acts that disrupt or threaten to breach the peace". She had initially been cleared, opens new tab of the rioting charge by District Court Judge Sham Siu-man in 2020, on the grounds that prosecutors had failed to make out a case against her, but the Justice Department appealed against that ruling. Before Tuesday's verdict, Chen said she had prepared for the worst, saying she was only trying to mitigate tensions that day. "I hope everyone can remain kind, conscientious and safeguard justice," Chen told Reuters. While awaiting the verdict, she continued to work as a social worker and supported others being prosecuted. Five character witnesses had vouched for her social work and disaster relief efforts including after the South Asian tsunami in 2004 and 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Chen, a member of the Battlefield Social Worker group during the 2019 protests, was frequently seen with a loudhailer, liaising between protesters and police officers, monitoring police action and offering emotional support to people. Hong Kong passed a bill last year allowing its Social Workers Registration Board to disqualify social workers convicted of national security offences, among others that could bring the profession "into disrepute". The conviction could cost Chen her licence as a social worker.
