The father and second brother of Fung-yee Kwok, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council, who is wanted by the Hong Kong National Security Department with a HK$1 million reward for information leading to her arrest, were reportedly arrested on Wednesday (April 30) on charges of assisting Fung-yee Kwok's funds. Kwok's father was formally charged at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Friday (April 2), while his brother was released on bail pending further investigation.
Hong Kong police announced Friday that two men, aged 35 and 68, were suspected of "attempting to directly or indirectly handle the funds of absconders" in violation of the National Security Ordinance and the Crimes Ordinance. This is the first time the National Security Department has invoked this offence, which police describe as a serious offense carrying a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment.
According to the Sing Tao Daily, the police discovered that Guo's father and others had previously met with Guo Fengyi overseas. They then launched an investigation and learned that after returning to Hong Kong, Guo's father assisted in handling Guo Fengyi's insurance policy matters in Hong Kong. He planned to help Guo Fengyi withdraw a cash balance of nearly 100,000 yuan. Later, at the beginning of this year, he provided the insurance company with several forms claiming to contain the signatures of Guo's father and Guo Fengyi. The report also said that Guo Fengyi's second brother also worked at the insurance company, "It is not ruled out that someone used his power and knowledge of the insurance industry to help deal with Guo Fengyi's property in Hong Kong."
A review of records reveals that the National Security Department detained Guo Fengyi's parents and two brothers on August 8 and 22, respectively, to investigate whether they had any contact or financial dealings with her. At the time, Guo Fengyi responded on Facebook, stating that her family "never helped, was unclear about, or even aware of the nature of my work." She also stated that the Hong Kong government's harassment of her family was intended to silence her in the United States, but that she would not give up her work paving the way for freedom and self-determination in Hong Kong.
In recent years, National Security Police have frequently taken in family members of wanted Hong Kong residents to assist in investigations. In the first four months of this year, they took 14 people away nine times to assist in investigations. This is the first time a family member has been charged.
The defendant, Guo Xiansheng, a businessman, filed a request for a six-week adjournment after the trial to allow him to seize Guo's father's mobile phone and computer. Defense attorney Guan Wenwei stated that a bail application could not be made at this stage, stating that the crux of the case lies in whether the insurance policies allegedly handled by Guo's father were Guo Fengyi's or his own assets. The prosecution has yet to provide the relevant policies, which they would need time to review. The court requested a one-week adjournment before deciding on the direction of the defense and whether to grant bail.
The case was adjourned to June 13 for further hearing, and the defendant was remanded in custody. Chief Magistrate So Wai-tak stated that if the defendant applies for bail, the date for the hearing will be tentatively set for May 8.
