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The households of 12 Hong Kong protesters detained by the China Coast Guard on Aug. 23 as they tried to flee to the democratic island of Taiwan by speedboat say the court docket that attempted the detainees on Monday has instructed them sentencing will happen on Wednesday.
A priority group representing the households mentioned that they had been knowledgeable by legal professionals that the Yantian District People’s Court within the southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen would announce its sentencing selections at 10.30 a.m. native time on Wednesday.
But the Save 12 Hong Kong Youths concern group mentioned it had been unable to confirm this info with the court docket itself.
The legal professionals at present performing for the detainees had been appointed by the authorities after legal professionals employed by the households had been repeatedly denied entry to their purchasers and to case information.
According to the government-appointed legal professionals, the ten detainees pleaded responsible to expenses linked to illegally crossing a border throughout Monday’s trial.
The unconfirmed report got here as U.Ok. overseas secretary Dominic Raab hit out on the approach the trial was performed, with the households of the detainees reporting that that they had been unable to attend as a result of they had been knowledgeable too late of the trial date to get by means of a 14-day obligatory quarantine interval after crossing into mainland China.
Raab mentioned he was deeply involved over the trial, which mentioned was successfully held “in secret” given the lack of know-how handed to the defendants’ households.
“We are deeply concerned that members of the [Hong Kong] 12 were tried in secret today, having been given just three days’ notice of their trial,” Raab mentioned.
Consular workers denied entry
He mentioned British consular workers had additionally been denied entry to the court docket.
“The Shenzhen 12 have not had access to lawyers of their choosing, raising further serious questions about access to legal counsel in mainland China,” he mentioned.
Ten out of the 12 stood trial on the Yantian District People’s Court on Monday: activists Quinn Moon and Tang Kai-yin for “organizing an illegal border crossing,” which carries a most penalty of seven years’ imprisonment; and Li Tsz-yin; Andy Li; Wong Wai-yin, and Kok Tsz-lun had been tried for “illegally crossing a border.”
Two different detainees had been additionally prosecuted by the Yantian District People’s Procuratorate, however their trials had been to be held behind closed doorways as a result of they’re beneath 18, the procuratorate mentioned earlier this month.
The Save 12 Hong Kong Youths concern group mentioned that relations, legal professionals, journalists, and diplomats had been all refused entry to the trial on the grounds that the courtroom was full, making the listening to successfully a secret trial.
Hopes for lenient therapy
A lawyer initially employed by relations to signify one of many detainees mentioned it’s fairly seemingly that the detainees had pleaded responsible.
“I should have thought they could have handed down the sentences [on the same day],” he mentioned. “It is quite likely that 10 of them have compromised and pleaded guilty.”
“It is also likely that none of them will appeal,” he mentioned.
Pleading responsible, cooperating with police investigators, and making video “confessions” to be aired on state TV are usually regarded in China’s judicial system as grounds for extra lenient therapy, together with sentencing to time already served.
“It’s pretty much a done deal … they could still wind up on TV,” the lawyer mentioned. “Maybe after that happens, some of them will get to go home in time for Lunar New Year.”
“The Chinese authorities are playing this more for public opinion and less for the legal [deterrent] effect,” the lawyer mentioned.
An worker who answered the telephone on the Yantian District People’s Court on Tuesday declined to present additional particulars or verify the preliminary stories relating to the timing of the sentencing.
“The timing for the sentencing has been announced in accordance with the law,” the worker mentioned. “If family members want to attend, they can do so in accordance with relevant regulations.”
Politically delicate case
The brother of one of many detainees, Tang Kai-yin, instructed Hong Kong authorities broadcaster RTHK that the households had acquired messages telling them that the detainees had been “well-behaved” and pleaded responsible.
He mentioned the households had been baffled by a declare made in a court docket assertion that relations of the defendants had been current on the trial, as not one of the households had been in a position to determine anybody who had attended.
“We asked [them] … and none of them knew who that was, so we’re baffled by this,” the person mentioned.
Beijing-based felony lawyer Zhang Dongshuo mentioned the case is regarded by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as politically delicate.
“The court may wish to make sure all of the arrangements and case-handling is in accordance with [Beijing’s wishes], especially as the case also involves two suspects under the age of 18,” Zhang mentioned.
Reported by Gao Feng for RFA’s Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
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