Benny Tai Yiu-ting
Political Prisoner
Benny Tai Yiu-ting 戴耀廷
Age at Arrest: 56
Former law professor, University of Hong Kong
*Currently in jail.
Benny Tai was the co-founder of the 2014 Occupy Central Movement and a leading strategist for the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong. Tai was also a key organiser of an unofficial primary election for Hong Kong’s opposition parties in 2019.
Tai was granted cash bail of HK$100,000 after serving 4 months of his 16-month sentence over the 2014 protests. However, while awaiting the outcome of the appeal against his conviction and prison sentence related to the 2014 protests, he was arrested on 6 January 2021 and placed in custody in March 2021. This was due to Tai’s involvement in the “35+” democratic primaries in July 2020.
On 30 April 2021, Tai lost his appeal to overturn his prison sentences of 16 months and eight months, and began to serve his sentences in jail. (Photo: HKFP)
Charges, Incidents & sentences:
Charge: Four charges of illegal election spending under the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance
Incident: Placing advertisements in local newspapers in the run-up to the 2016 legislative polls
Charge: Conspiracy to commit subversion under the National Security Law
Incident: Organising and coordinating pro-democracy primary elections in July 2020
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