HONG KONG: Seven men from Hong Kong, aged 19-32, were sentenced this week to up to 10 months in jail for attempting to flee the city by speedboat to Taiwan.
They pleaded guilty to charges of acting to pervert the course of public justice by evading criminal proceedings in their attempt to flee, according to local newspaper South China Morning Post.
The men were part of a group of 12 people who were on board the speedboat. The group had departed Hong Kong in August 2020, but were caught at sea by mainland authorities.
Most of those on board were on bail and awaiting trial for protest-related offenses.
The case of the 12 detainees had sparked debate about China’s judiciary system after the group was held for months, as family members said that they could not get in touch with them or hire their own lawyers for the case.
They are also among the latest amid dozens of protesters who have been convicted and jailed as part of Hong Kong’s political crackdown.
