Latest news with #Sham
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Man alleges extortion attempt by ex-girlfriend
The Pattukottai All Women Police are investigating a complaint lodged by a Mallipattinam-based person that his ex-girlfriend attempted to extort money from him. According to the police, Mohammed Sham, 31, of Mallipattinam went to Chennai in August last year to pursue his graduation. There he met a 21-year-old woman of Chennai and subsequently both of them fell in love. Later, Mr. Sham broke the relationship but the woman allegedly threatened him. She forwarded the photographs taken by them when they were in relationship to the parents of Mr. Sham residing in Mallipattinam and allegedly demanded money from his family. Annoyed by her act, Mr. Sham lodged a complaint with the Pattukottai All Women Police recently and the police have registered a case against the woman and her family on charge of attempting to extort money and 'misusing' information technology, the police said.
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Hong Kong 47: Jimmy Sham, three other opposition figures released from prison
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, one of 47 Hong Kong opposition figures charged in the city's largest national security case so far, has been released from prison after serving his sentence for conspiracy to commit subversion. Sham and three others – Kinda Li Ka-tat, Roy Tam Hoi-pong and Henry Wong Pak-yu – were released early on Friday, a police source confirmed. They were the second batch of defendants in the high-profile case to complete their sentences. Sham, 38, a former convenor of the now-defunct Civil Human Rights Front, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison in November 2024, with the time he spent in pre-trial detention also taken into account. He was seen leaving Shek Pik Prison on Lantau Island under heavy police escort and also near his home in Jordan, where he reportedly arrived at around 6.30am. Speaking to local media, Sham said he hoped to remember those who were 'still suffering', and that he would need time to figure out what the 'new normal' was after four years away from society. 'I'm not sure if I am really a free man,' he said. 'My emotions are complicated ... of course, there is some happiness here [about my release], but there are still many who are suffering, and I feel like I can't be too joyful.' He added that over the past four years many things had changed 'outside' that he had not been aware of. 'I don't know how to plan ahead because, to me, it feels like today is my first day of understanding the world again,' Sham said. 'So, as for what I can do or should do in the future, or where the red line is, I feel like I need to explore and figure it out all over again.' He said he had no plans to leave Hong Kong for the time being and that he was looking forward to spending time with his family again after four years of being apart. Li, Tam and Wong, who are all former district councillors, were also released around the same time – Li and Wong from Stanley Prison and Tam from the Pik Uk Correctional Institution. Their release followed that of four former Legislative Council members – Fan Kwok-wai, Claudia Mo Man-ching, Kwok Ka-ki and Jeremy Tam Man-ho – who were freed in late April, the first defendants to complete their sentences in the case. Sham served as convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front for a year in 2015 and again from 2018 to late 2020, a period during which the organisation spearheaded many large-scale anti-government protests, including during the 2019 social unrest. He also served as the external vice-chairman of the League of Social Democrats and was a district councillor for the Sha Tin Lek Yuen constituency before resigning in 2020. The 'Hong Kong 47' case is the biggest prosecution yet under the national security law that was imposed on the city by Beijing in June 2020 to quell the months-long anti-government movement. Forty-five of the 47 opposition figures were earlier convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion for their roles in an unauthorised 'primary' election held four years ago that was deemed to be part of a plot to overthrow the government. Additional reporting by Connor Mycroft - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hong Kong pro-democracy and gay rights activist Jimmy Sham released after 4 years in prison
Hong Kong's prominent pro-democracy and LGBTQ+ activist Jimmy Sham was released from prison on Friday after serving over four years in the city's biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law. Mr. Sham's activism made headlines during 2019 anti-government protests, when he was the convenor of a now-disbanded pro-democracy group that organized some of the biggest peaceful marches that year, including one that drew an estimated 2 million people. Mr. Sham was among 47 activists arrested in 2021 for their roles in an unofficial primary election. He was sentenced with 44 other activists last year after judges ruled that their plans to effect change through the primary would have undermined the government's authority and create a constitutional crisis. Only two of the original defendants were acquitted. Even behind bars, Mr. Sham continued to fight for recognition of his same-sex marriage registered overseas at the city's top court, which later ruled the government should provide a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships. It was a landmark decision for the city's LGBTQ+ community. 'I feel happy. No matter whether there's a change in (my) freedom, I am definitely freer compared to yesterday,' Mr. Sham told reporters Friday after he was reunited with his family. 'But I also know many people are suffering. This makes me feel I shouldn't be too happy.' Asked if police had warned him not to talk to anyone, he said he censored himself on some sensitive questions. Sham also sounded unsure whether he was a free man. 'Maybe tomorrow, you still can see me, I am free. Maybe tomorrow, I will go back to the jail. I don't know,' he said. The activist said he has no plans to leave Hong Kong for now. "So what I can do in the future and what I should, and where the red line lies, I still have to figure it out again.' Mr. Sham and three other activists freed on Friday — Kinda Li, Roy Tam and Henry Wong — are the second batch to be reunited with their families, following the release of four pro-democracy former lawmakers last month. The years of separation have pained the activists and their relatives. The case involved democracy advocates across the spectrum. They include legal scholar Benny Tai, who got a 10-year prison term, and former student leader Joshua Wong, who has to serve four years and eight months. Critics said the national security law has effectively crushed the city's pro-democracy movement, but Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist it brought back stability to the city. Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang said in a press briefing Thursday that those who were jailed for national security offenses and freed from correctional facilities enjoy freedoms, including freedom of expression, like other residents. He said their conviction would not affect a certain aspect of their freedoms.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Hong Kong pro-democracy and gay rights activist Jimmy Sham released after 4 years in prison
HONG KONG — Hong Kong's prominent pro-democracy and LGBTQ+ activist Jimmy Sham was released from prison on Friday after serving more than four years in the city's biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law. Sham's activism made headlines during 2019 anti-government protests, when he was the convener of a now-disbanded pro-democracy group that organized some of the biggest peaceful marches that year, including one that drew an estimated 2 million people. Sham was among 47 activists arrested in 2021 for their roles in an unofficial primary election. He was sentenced with 44 other activists last year after judges ruled that their plans to effect change through the primary would have undermined the government's authority and create a constitutional crisis. Only two of the original defendants were acquitted. Even behind bars, Sham continued to fight for recognition of his same-sex marriage registered overseas at the city's top court, which later ruled the government should provide a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships. It was a landmark decision for the city's LGBTQ+ community. 'I feel happy. No matter whether there's a change in (my) freedom, I am definitely freer compared to yesterday,' Sham told reporters Friday after he was reunited with his family. 'But I also know many people are suffering. This makes me feel I shouldn't be too happy.' Asked if police had warned him not to talk to anyone, he said he censored himself on some sensitive questions. Sham also sounded unsure whether he was a free man. 'Maybe tomorrow, you still can see me, I am free. Maybe tomorrow, I will go back to the jail. I don't know,' he said. The activist said he has no plans to leave Hong Kong for now. 'So what I can do in the future and what I should, and where the red line lies, I still have to figure it out again.' Sham and three other activists freed on Friday — Kinda Li, Roy Tam and Henry Wong — are the second batch to be reunited with their families, following the release of four pro-democracy former lawmakers last month. The years of separation have pained the activists and their relatives. The case involved democracy advocates across the spectrum. They include legal scholar Benny Tai, who got a 10-year prison term, and former student leader Joshua Wong, who has to serve four years and eight months. Critics said the national security law has effectively crushed the city's pro-democracy movement, but Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist it brought back stability to the city. Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang said in a press briefing Thursday that those who were jailed for national security offenses and freed from correctional facilities enjoy freedoms, including freedom of expression, like other residents. He said their conviction would not affect a certain aspect of their freedoms. Leung writes for the Associated Press.
4 days ago
- Politics
Hong Kong pro-democracy and gay rights activist Sham released after 4 years in prison
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's prominent pro-democracy and LGBTQ+ activist Jimmy Sham was released from prison on Friday after serving over four years in the city's biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law. Sham's activism made headlines during 2019 anti-government protests, when he was the convenor of a now-disbanded pro-democracy group that organized some of the biggest peaceful marches that year, including one that drew an estimated 2 million people. Sham was among 47 activists arrested in 2021 for their roles in an unofficial primary election. He was sentenced with 44 other activists last year after judges ruled that their plans to effect change through the primary would have undermined the government's authority and create a constitutional crisis. Only two of the original defendants were acquitted. Even behind bars, Sham continued to fight for recognition of his same-sex marriage registered overseas at the city's top court, which later ruled the government should provide a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships. It was a landmark decision for the city's LGBTQ+ community. 'I feel happy. No matter whether there's a change in (my) freedom, I am definitely freer compared to yesterday,' Sham told reporters Friday after he was reunited with his family. 'But I also know many people are suffering. This makes me feel I shouldn't be too happy.' Asked if police had warned him not to talk to anyone, he said he censored himself on some sensitive questions. Sham also sounded unsure whether he was a free man. 'Maybe tomorrow, you still can see me, I am free. Maybe tomorrow, I will go back to the jail. I don't know,' he said. The activist said he has no plans to leave Hong Kong for now. "So what I can do in the future and what I should, and where the red line lies, I still have to figure it out again.' Sham and three other activists freed on Friday — Kinda Li, Roy Tam and Henry Wong — are the second batch to be reunited with their families, following the release of four pro-democracy lawmakers last month. The years of separation have pained the activists and their relatives. The case involved democracy advocates across the spectrum. They include legal scholar Benny Tai, who got a 10-year prison term, and former student leader Joshua Wong, who has to serve four years and eight months. Critics said the national security law has effectively crushed the city's pro-democracy movement, but Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist it brought back stability to the city. Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang said in a press briefing Thursday that those who were jailed for national security offenses and freed from correctional facilities enjoy freedoms, including freedom of expression, like other residents. He said their conviction would not affect a certain aspect of their freedoms.
