HONG KONG - Hong Kong's District Court on Friday sentenced three Hong Kong people to jail terms from four years and three months to five-and-half years for illegally detaining and assaulting Global Times reporter Fu Guohao at Hong Kong International Airport in 2019. The three were convicted on Wednesday on charges stemming from the assault.

READ MORE: 3 found guilty of HK airport attack on mainland journalist

The incident during the late hours of Aug 13 and early morning of Aug 14, 2019, during an unlawful assembly in the airport’s departure hall during the city’s social unrest that started in June that year

Lai Yun-long, 20, Amy Pat Wai-fan, 25 and Ho Ka-lok, 30, were convicted of rioting and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Pat was found guilty of the additional crime of false imprisonment.

Lai had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and obstructing a public officer, and Ho pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Ho was sentenced to five years, six months in jail, Lai five years, three months, and Pat four years, three months.

ALSO READ: Reporter describes harrowing ordeal in HK airport assault

The incident during the late hours of Aug 13 and early morning of Aug 14, 2019, during an unlawful assembly in the airport’s departure hall during the city’s social unrest that started in June that year.

Fu who was wearing a yellow vest identifying him as a member of the press, nevertheless was surrounded by a group of masked, black-clad protesters who said they doubted his identity. Fu was tied up, beaten and otherwise abused by protesters for around 50 minutes. The illegal sit-in later turned into a clash between the protesters and Hong Kong police.