Wednesday, 30 December 2020_A Chinese court has sentenced 10 of the 12 Hong Kong fugitives who sought to flee to Taiwan by boat to up to three years in prison.
On Wednesday, the Yantian District People’s Court in the city of Shenzhen sentenced Tang Kai-yin and Quinn Moon to three years and two years, respectively, for organizing an illegal border crossing.
Eight others received seven-month sentences for illegally crossing the border, the court said, adding that all 10 were also fined up to 20,000 yuan (3,060 dollars).
The lawyers of the accused said the sentences were too heavy and claimed that the allegation of organizing a border crossing had not not substantiated.
Earlier in the day, a district prosecutor said the two minors among the so-called “Hong Kong 12” would not be charged and would be returned to Hong Kong authorities.
The decision was made after the two minors agreed to “willingly admit to their guilt and accept punishment,” the prosecutor said.
The two teenagers will arrive back in Hong Kong around noon on Wednesday.
Hong Kong police said it would hold a press conference just before noon regarding the transfer of the pair, without elaborating.
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