Hong Kong national security police arrest 10 linked to now-defunct legal fund for anti-government protesters

Hong Kong national security police arrest 10 linked to now-defunct legal fund for anti-government protesters Suspects, aged between 26 and 43, are former staff members and people affiliated with 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund Group accused of conspiring to accept donations from overseas organisations to provide financial support to those who fled Hong Kong Hong Kong national security police have arrested 10 people linked to the now-disbanded 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund which was set up to help those involved in the 2019 anti-government protests. The four men and six women, who are former staff members and people affiliated with the fund, were still being questioned by officers from the force’s National Security Department as of Thursday afternoon, according to a source familiar with the case. The source said the 10 suspects, aged 26 to 43, were being held on suspicion of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and inciting rioting. The Post learned that those arrested included Bobo Yip Po-lam and Cheuk Kai-kai, local activists campaigning against the government’s proposed development projects in the New Territories. The force later confirmed the arrests and said its investigation indicated the suspects had conspired to collude with the fund to “receive donations from various overseas organisations to support people who have fled overseas or organisations which called for sanctions against Hong Kong”. Police added that officers armed with court warrants searched the suspects’ homes and offices in a series of raids, seizing documents and electronic communication devices in connection with the case. The force said an investigation was under way and further arrests had not been ruled out. Police also remind the public that “conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security” was a serious crime and carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

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