HKFP reports
Judge Andrew Chan said former lawmaker Ted Hui had “greatly undermined” public confidence in the administration of justice and “made a mockery of the criminal justice system” after fleeing the city while on bail.
Hong Kong’s High Court has sentenced former pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui in absentia to three and a half years in prison for contempt of court after fleeing overseas while on bail. Hui, who is now in Australia, was not represented in court.
Hui, who was found guilty of four counts of contempt of court in June, was sentenced by Judge Andrew Chan on Thursday morning.
Hui was given permission to travel overseas while on bail by two judges, enabling him to leave the city in November 2020 on the pretext of attending climate change meetings in Denmark. Authorities later said Hui enlisted the help of Danish legislators to draft a bogus itinerary and invitation letter to facilitate his flight
Chan on Thursday said the ex-lawmaker had “carefully orchestrated” his deception of the police and the court by providing them with false documents. Public confidence in the administration of justice had been “greatly undermined” as a result of Hui’s offences, he said.
“The Respondent’s actions not only made a mockery of the criminal justice system but also amounted to the commission of the offence of Perverting the Course of Public Justice,” Chan added.
After considering the seriousness of the case, the consequences of Hui’s evasion and its impact on the criminal justice system, past criminal contempt cases, and Hui showing “no remorse” after his conviction, Chan sentenced Hui to jail for three years and six months in his absence.
