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| A Facebook post by Pioquinto (middle) shows him with fellow migrants rights advocates Rey Asis and Aaron Ceradoy |
Jethro Pioquinto, 36, was arrested during a police dispersal
operation against anti-government protesters in Mong Kok on Aug 3. He had
always said that he was just on his way home from work when he got caught in the
protest.
A government lawyer told Kowloon City
Pioquinto had been out on $10,000 bail since he was charged
in court on Aug. 5.
His release meant that Pioquinto could now join a family
reunion in Manila
At an earlier hearing on Sept. 30, his volunteer lawyer had
tried to get court permission for Pioquinto to fly home for the reunion, but
the prosecutor opposed the application, saying there was a risk he would not
return to Hong Kong .
The prosecutor also said then that more charges could be
filed against Pioquinto based on his alleged contacts with other protesters,
but gave no details.
Pioquinto was arrested at about 11:15pm on Aug 3, as the
police were clearing Nathan Road
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| Still shot from a video taken during the arrest showed a terrified Pioquinto being led away by police |
The prosecution said the Filipino did not budge when the police
ordered the protesters to leave before they began a clearing operation.
But his lawyer said Pioquinto was not a rally participant
and could not have understood the police order to leave because he does not
speak Cantonese.
He was said to be on his way home to his rented room nearby after
finishing work at HK Disneyland when he unfortunately got caught in the protest.
Videos taken of the dispersal operation showed Pioquinto
being tackled to the ground by police before being dragged away.
Officers of the Consulate said Pioquinto was taken to the
North Point Police station following his arrest, but was moved to Pamela Youde
Nethersole Hospital
He showed up in court for the first time with his right arm
wrapped in thick gauze pad due to a laceration he sustained when he fell on the
pavement as riot police ganged up on him.
His lawyer said no protest-related materials were found on
him, just his shoulder bag, mobile phone and an Octopus card.
At the the time of his arrest, Pioquinto was said to be
looking forward to going home to Manila
In a Facebook post, he also said he was "brewing up something" for the Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge, along with friends and fellow migrant rights advocates Rey Asis and Aaron Ceradoy.
