The appeal by Benny Tai and eight other people against the ruling they received over the illegal "Occupy Central" movement in Hong Kong in 2014 was dismissed by the High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday.
The nine people were found guilty in 2019 of public nuisance-related charges for planning and organizing the illegal "Occupy Central" movement in 2014. The three main instigators, including Tai, were sentenced to 16 months in jail. The defendants later lodged an appeal against their conviction.
The HKSAR high court on Friday rejected their appeals and upheld the original rulings. It also dismissed the appeal for the sentences of Tai and another defendant to be reduced.
The 79-day illegal "Occupy Central" movement in Hong Kong beginning late September 2014 had caused serious impact on local industries including tourism, retail and transportation while trampling on the rule of law in Hong Kong.
