By Vir B. Lumicao
 |
| Pioquinto |
A Filipino performer at Hong Kong Disneyland has been
granted his claim for legal costs
after a charge of unlawful assembly against him was dropped
in Kowloon Court 10 days ago.
Magistrate Ada Yim approved the $30,000 claimed by Jethro
Pioquinto for the costs he incurred while fighting his case in court. His
lawyer Fiona Nam, made the application on his behalf at a hearing earlier today,
Dec. 6.
Pioquinto, 36, was not in court because he was reportedly in
the Philippines
for a family reunion.
Before granting his claim, Yim asked the defense
for a map showing the rally assembly point, the dispersal location and where
Pioquinto was arrested.
“The map shows the dispersal was near the Mongkok MTR
Station far from the Prince Edward
Road assembly point. The defendant was carrying
only his personal belongings. That’s why I am awarding his claim,” Yim
said.
Nam
said that apart from the legal costs, her client will file a civil claim for
damages, including loss of income during the nearly four months he was detained
without bail while his case was pending.
Pioquinto was arrested during a dispersal operation by
police at the corner of Argyle
street and Nathan Road in Mongkok at about 11:15pm on
Aug 3.
The Filipino said that he was returning from work to his
boarding house on nearby Canton
Road when he got caught in a rally by anti-government
protesters.
He was seen on video running away when riot police charged. Officers
then ganged up on him and pinned him to the ground after he stumbled. He was
arrested and sent to hospital for bruises on his arm.
Yim ordered Pioquinto released on Nov. 26 after prosecutors
decided to drop the charges against him and another defendant arrested that
evening.
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