This photo dated Dec 3, 2020 shows the building of the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Seven of the 12 Hong Kong protesters who attempted to flee to Taiwan in 2020 to escape justice were sentenced to 10 months in jail on Friday for perverting the course of justice.

The defendants, aged 19 to 32, all pleaded guilty to the offense. The case of the 12 fugitives represents Hong Kong’s first case in which the accused illegally attempted to abscond, and to assist others in absconding, according to the prosecutors.

The case of the 12 fugitives represents Hong Kong’s first case in which the accused illegally attempted to abscond, and to assist others in absconding, according to the prosecutors

The seven offenders are Liu Tsz-man, 19, Cheng Tsz-ho, 20, Cheung Chun-fu, 25, Cheung Ming-yu, 23, Yim Man-him, 23, Li Tsz-yin, 32 and Kok Tsz-lun, 21. 

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The 12 protesters, who were arrested by the police and facing prosecution for their actions linked to the 2019 social unrest, were caught in Chinese mainland waters while attempting to escape to Taiwan in August 2020. 

Ten of the fugitives, of adult-age, were sentenced to seven months to three years in prison by Yantian District People’s Court in Shenzhen in December 2020. The two minors among the fugitives were returned to Hong Kong police.

Among the 10 adults detained in Shenzhen, eight of them returned to Hong Kong in 2021 after completing their jail terms. Nine of the Hong Kong-based fugitives were later charged for perverting the course of justice.

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In Friday’s hearing at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, Deputy District Judge Newman Wong Hing-Wai noted that despite the lack of clear evidence indicating that any of the seven jailed on Friday had masterminded the escape plan, they had each played an active part, constituting a failure to surrender to custody. 

He added that the defendants had been charged for serious offenses before absconding, and that their crimes constitute contempt and a deliberate challenge to the judicial system.

Judge Wong also expressed regret over having to sentence the seven young people to prison, but emphasized that their imprisonment is necessary, given the nature of their crimes and the sanctity of the law.