Hong Kong Occupy leader found guilty

Bloomberg

A Hong Kong court found democracy activist Benny Tai guilty for his role in organising the Occupy protests, the latest step in the China-backed government’s effort to punish leaders of demonstrations that rocked the former British colony almost five years ago.
Tai, an associate law professor at the University of Hong Kong, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit public nuisance and incitement to commit public nuisance by District Court Judge Johnny Chan in West Kowloon. He was among nine academics, activists and politicians convicted of charges related to their roles in organising mass rallies that lasted 79 days.
Chan didn’t indicate when any sentences would be handed down, but said the court would reconvene on Wednesday. Tai and the movement’s two other main leaders — Chan Kin-man, 60, an associate professor of sociology at the Chinese University of Hong Hong, and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, 75 — were met with loud applause from spectators chanting “Civil disobedience!” and “We want universal suffrage!” as they exited the courthouse on Tuesday.
The three men were convicted of conspiracy to commit public nuisance for their roles in the protest.
The trial caps Hong Kong’s effort to pursue those who encouraged the demonstrations, which sought the open nomination of candidates for what was supposed to be the first
direct election of the city’s leader.