Hong Kong journalist granted bail on body armour charge but will have to return to Thailand for trial
A Hong Kong photojournalist detained at Bangkok’s main international airport for carrying a bulletproof jacket and helmet has been allowed to leave Thailand – but will have to return to face trial.
Anthony Kwan Hok-chun, who pleaded not guilty last month, was again granted bail by the Samut Prakarn provincial court on Monday. He was permitted to leave Thailand until the next set of hearings from April 5, his lawyer Sirikan Charonesiri told the South China Morning Post.
While the court granted Kwan’s request for bail, the deposit amount was raised to 150,000 Thai baht (HK$32,313) from 100,000 baht due to the longer bail period.
A letter was submitted to the Office of Attorney General on November 10 seeking a withdrawal of charges against Kwan on the ground that such prosecution would yield no benefit to the public interest, Charonesiri added. But the letter remained unanswered as of Monday night.
READ MORE: Hong Kong photojournalist charged in Thailand over body armour
Kwan could face jail if found guilty of weapons possession after he was found with body armour without a licence while covering the Erawan Shrine bombings in Bangkok in August.
The case sparked an outcry from media freedom groups who say journalists should not be punished for carrying body armour and protective gear in and out of dangerous zones.
Kwan, who works for the Hong Kong-based Initium media group, was arrested on August 23 after trying to fly out of Suvarnabhumi Airport with a flak jacket and helmet in his hand luggage – items classified as weapons under Thai law. Kwan was charged with breaching the Arms Control Act, which is punishable by up to five years in jail.
