Hong Kong national security police charge woman with perverting course of justice 6 months after her arrest.

Hong Kong national security police charge woman with perverting course of justice 6 months after her arrest.

The Charge

In recent news coming out, Hong Kong’s national security police have alleged a woman for perverting the course of justice. This case comes to light more than six months after the woman’s arrest. The formal charge against the 63-year-old was made on Sunday with a count of perversion of public justice as confirmed by a statement from the National Security Department of the city’s police.

According to information released

This case is to be heard on Thursday in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts. Upon analyzing reports, it was found that the woman in question was apprehended in March on the Hong Kong Island under suspicion of conspiring to subvert the course of public justice.

Associated Arrests

Reports indicate that the woman’s arrest was tied to a series of other arrests connected to the same issue. It has been reported that she was arrested alongside a lawyer with both later being released on bail. The arrest was made shortly following the arrest of a connected party, accused of collusion with foreign forces but have yet to face a formal charge.

While studying these multiple arrests and charges, it becomes clear that all involved parties have a connection. They all have associations with a previously active pro-democracy alliance in the city that was revered for its organization of annual vigils commemorating a significant historical event. This alliance, however, disbanded last year following three decades of operation. They are all engaged in a trial under the implementation of national security regulations accused of inciting subversion.

National Security Legislation in Hong Kong

In the middle of 2020, amid a wave of pro-democracy protests and civil unrest, Beijing introduced national security legislation directly into the city’s mini-constitution. This was done specifically bypassing the local legislature and put into law crimes such as subversion, collusion, secession, terrorist activities among others. These charges have been liberally used to blanket offences such as disruption to transport and other forms of infrastructure. This move allowed the police to receive new sweeping powers, causing alarm among democrats, civil society groups, and trade partners.

However, the authorities maintain that the implementation of the national security law has restored stability and peace to the city, even as it is used to silence and punish dissidents. The situation remains dynamic and is watched by global observers to understand the balance between national security and personal freedom.