Singer Tommy Yuen arrested for sedition

Singer-activist Tommy Yuen has been arrested by national security police on suspicion of sedition and money laundering, RTHK has learnt.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, the police said they arrested a 41-year-old singer over content he published on social media.

They said the man had allegedly published content since last September that incites hatred towards the government, the police and judges.

Steve Li, senior superintendent of the force’s national security unit, also accused the singer of smearing the government’s Covid policies, and singing a song that contains a banned protest slogan during an online concert.

“It’s about the slogan. That one is very clearly mentioned in the verdict of the Tong Ying-kit case. That means it’s separatism,”Li said.

“If this guy sings this song with this content, that will incite others to do some illegal acts. If the investigations [find] sufficient evidence, we will lay the charge,” he said.

Last year, the High Court sentenced former waiter Tong Ying-kit to nine years in jail, after he was convicted of terrorism and inciting secession for driving a motorbike into a group of police officers while carrying a flag bearing a popular protest slogan.

Speaking on Tuesday, Li also accused the singer of raising HK$1 million through crowdfunding to support people charged with rioting, only for the money to be entered into the account of his 20 year-old relative.

The singer’s relative, who was also arrested on suspicion of money laundering, allegedly used part of the fund for betting and his personal use.

Li said the police have frozen around HK$140,000 connected to the case.