Four plead guilty to rioting at PolyU during 2019 protests

Four individuals have admitted their guilt to rioting charges stemming from the intense occupation of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2019. This development marks a significant step in the legal proceedings following one of the most tumultuous periods of the anti-extradition bill protests. The accused, Cheung Chung-yiu, Cheung Chin-ming, Chan Chun-hei, and Chan Yuen-ming, entered their pleas at the District Court in Wan Chai.

The path to this point has been complex. Originally arrested in 2019 and 2020, the defendants were not prosecuted at the time. However, a re-arrest in June 2024 led to charges related to their alleged actions during the siege, which spanned from November 14 to November 20, 2019. The events at the PolyU campus were characterized by significant violence, including the use of petrol bombs by protesters confronting the police, highlighting the severity of the unrest.

During the mitigation phase, the defense presented various circumstances for each defendant. Arguments included one defendant's study abroad prior to re-arrest, another's support for victims of a fire, and one individual's young age at the time of the incident, coupled with his subsequent role as a father. Another defendant's lawyer detailed a story of being tricked into working at a scam farm in Thailand and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. These personal narratives offer a glimpse into the varied lives affected by the 2019 events.

As the legal process moves towards sentencing, scheduled for June 8, the court will consider these mitigating factors. The maximum penalty for rioting is 10 years imprisonment, though District Court sentences are capped at seven years. The case underscores the ongoing legal repercussions of the 2019 protests and the Hong Kong justice system's continued engagement with these events.