Hong Kong protester to plead 'not guilty' over police attacks
A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester entered a "not guilty" plea Wednesday over allegations he assaulted police -- a day after officers accused of beating him also pleaded not guilty.
Political activist Ken Tsang stands accused of splashing liquid on police officers during mass street rallies last year -- the same night as he was beaten in an attack captured by television cameras and beamed around the world.
He pleaded "not guilty" to five charges -- two of assaulting a police officer and three of resisting a police officer -- at a court hearing Wednesday and is set to be tried in April.
Political activist Ken Tsang talks to the media outside the high court of justice in Hong Kong on April 17, 2015 ©Philippe Lopez (AFP/File)
Seven policemen will also stand trial for the assault on Tsang, which took place at the height of the protests seeking free leadership elections in Hong Kong.
The officers said they would plead "not guilty" at a court hearing Tuesday.
Tsang, a member of the pro-democracy Civic Party, said he could make no comment on the case when asked by AFP at court Wednesday.
He posed for photographers outside court with around 20 supporters carrying yellow umbrellas, symbol of the democracy movement.
"Thanks everyone. I'll keep going," he said.
Tsang's case has been mired in controversy after it took a year for the officers accused of the assault on him to be brought to court.
Tsang, 40, presented his case to a UN Committee Against Torture in Geneva last month.
Video footage aired by local television network TVB showed a group of men hauling a handcuffed Tsang to a dark corner in a public park in the early hours of October 15 last year.
One stands over him and punches him, as three others are seen repeatedly kicking him, in a case that rocked the reputation of the city's respected police force.
Tsang has accused the police of bringing assault charges against him to distract from his case against them.
The officers he is accused of attacking are not the same officers accused of assaulting him.
Tsang has slammed the allegations as "unreasonable and ridiculous".
