Posted on 09/28/2022 6:54:00 PM PDT by marshmallow
HONG KONG — After only two days, the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court adjourned the trial of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, 90, and four co-defendants, until Oct. 26.
The trial began Sept. 26 and had been scheduled for five days, but the magistrate adjourned the trial when defense lawyers attempted to cross-examine police witnesses called by the prosecution.
The outspoken cardinal, retired bishop of Hong Kong, was detained May 11 under the Beijing-imposed national security law. He and his co-defendants were then charged with failing to properly register their 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which offered financial, legal and psychological help to people arrested during the 2019 protest movement.
They have pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution said the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund had raised US$34.4 million and that some of the money was used for “political activities and noncharity events,” including funding protest groups.
The defense countered that defendants had a right to form an association under the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution that critics claim has been subverted in recent years by authorities in Beijing.
If found guilty, the defendants could each incur a fine of about $1,300.
(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnow.com ...
Pretty sorry excuse for a trial if there’s no cross-examination.
Coming to a dictatorship near you!
So much for “one country,two systems”
Like the Jan 6 witch trials.
...and the Michigan Governor kidnapping trials.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.