A court in Hong Kong convicted prominent social worker Jackie Chen of rioting on Tuesday following a retrial. The government had appealed her initial acquittal, which led to the new trial.
Chen, who pleaded not guilty, declined to testify during the retrial. The charge stemmed from an incident during the 2019 pro-democracy protests, where she used a megaphone to urge police officers to exercise restraint while tensions escalated in the city.
After the conviction, Chen addressed her supporters, telling them, “Don’t worry. Take care of yourselves.” She had been cleared of the same charge in 2020 by District Court Judge Sham Siu-man, who found that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against her. However, the Justice Department appealed the decision, leading to the retrial.
Deputy District Judge May Chung, who delivered the verdict on Tuesday, explained that she believed Chen’s actions encouraged protesters to continue confronting the police and potentially engage in disruptive or violent behavior.
Chen had prepared for the worst, emphasizing that she had only sought to ease tensions on that day. “I hope everyone can remain kind, conscientious, and safeguard justice,” she said. Despite the trial, she continued working as a social worker and supported others facing prosecution.
Five character witnesses testified in Chen’s defense, highlighting her long history of social work, including disaster relief efforts following the 2004 South Asian tsunami and the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Chen, a member of the Battlefield Social Worker group during the 2019 protests, was often seen with a loudhailer, mediating between protesters and police, monitoring police actions, and offering emotional support.
The recent conviction could impact Chen’s professional career. Hong Kong passed a law last year permitting the Social Workers Registration Board to disqualify social workers convicted of national security offenses or other crimes that could tarnish the profession’s reputation.
Stay tuned to The Asia Review for further updates on this story.
