Latest news with #Magistrates'Courts
HKFP
a day ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Nat. security case of wanted Hong Kong activist Anna Kwok's father adjourned until August
The case of wanted Hong Kong activist Anna Kwok's father, who stands accused of attempting to handle his daughter's funds, has been adjourned until August, pending the submission of insurance documents to the police. Kwok Yin-sang, 68, appeared before Chief Magistrate Victor So at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Friday afternoon for a mention of his case under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. He is the first person charged with 'attempting to deal with, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets or economic resources belonging to, or owned or controlled by, a relevant absconder,' under the city's homegrown security law, also known as Article 23. He is also the first family member of a wanted activist to be prosecuted by Hong Kong authorities. The prosecution applied for an adjournment on Friday, citing that the insurance company involved in the case would need more time to prepare and submit relevant documents to the police. The defence also informed the court that they had requested witness statements from the police but had yet to receive them. The magistrate adjourned the case to August 6 and instructed both parties to keep the court informed of any updates relating to the case. Kwok Yin-sang was allowed to remain on bail under the same conditions granted by the High Court last month. Prosecutors alleged that Kwok Yin-sang had attempted earlier this year to obtain funds from an AIA International life and personal accident insurance policy, with Anna Kwok, based in the US, listed as the insured person. The Hong Kong government barred anyone from dealing with Anna Kwok's assets in the city after Secretary for Security Chris Tang declared her an 'absconder,' along with six other exiled activists, in December. The 28-year-old is among the first group of eight overseas Hong Kong activists wanted by the city's national security police. She is accused of colluding with foreign forces and requesting foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Separate from the 2020 Beijing-enacted security law, the homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of up to 16 days, and suspects' access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city's opposition-free legislature. The law has been criticised by rights NGOs, Western states and the UN as vague, broad and 'regressive.' Authorities, however, cited perceived foreign interference and a constitutional duty to 'close loopholes' after the 2019 protests and unrest.
Borneo Post
23-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Unemployed Kuching woman jailed for shoplifting, drug abuse
The offences were framed under Section 380 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years and a possible fine upon conviction. – Stock photo KUCHING (May 23): An unemployed woman was sentenced to a total of five months in jail by the Magistrates' Courts here today for committing theft at three clothing stores in a local mall. Nisha Lo Abdullah, 36, pleaded guilty to all three charges before Magistrates Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan and Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali in separate proceedings. For the first and second charges, she was sentenced to two months' imprisonment each, while the third charge carried a one-month sentence. All jail terms are to run concurrently from May 20, 2025. The offences were framed under Section 380 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years and a possible fine upon conviction. Nisha committed the thefts at three different clothing outlets in a mall along Jalan Simpang Tiga between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on May 20, 2025. According to case facts, she was arrested on the same day after store employees lodged separate police reports. Police recovered six pieces of clothing taken from the three outlets. CCTV footage from the stores captured Nisha placing the stolen items into her handbag without making any payment. In a separate proceeding, the Sessions Court sentenced Nisha to five years in prison after she pleaded guilty to habitual drug abuse. Judge Musli Ab Hamid also ordered her to undergo two years of supervision upon completion of her prison term. The drug offence was committed at the Kuching District Police Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department at 8pm on October 10, 2024. Nisha has three prior convictions under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, dating back to 2020, 2021, and 2023. The cases were prosecuted by ASP Arman Ibrahim and Insp Nur Ain Wong, while Nisha was unrepresented. drug abuse jail Kuching shoplifting theft
RTHK
30-04-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
Man in court for allegedly posting seditious posts
Man in court for allegedly posting seditious posts A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of committing 'knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention'. File photo: RTHK A 22-year-old man appeared in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Wednesday following his arrest on suspicion of violating section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The national security department of the police force said in a statement that the man was arrested on Monday in Kowloon on suspicion of "knowingly publishing publications that had a seditious intention". The department said investigations indicated that the man had repeatedly posted material on social media that incited hatred and contempt against the fundamental state system established under the constitution of the People's Republic of China, as well as encouraging others to unlawfully alter matters established by the central authorities regarding Hong Kong.
