A Hong Kong court docket has dismissed a gun cost in opposition to a Washington state senator arrested after he carried a gun into the Chinese language territory
ByKANIS LEUNG HONG KONG Related Press
October 29, 2023, 11:48 PM
Washington state Sen. Jeff Wilson covers himself as he arrives at West Kowloon Magistrates Courts in Hong Kong, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. A Hong Kong court docket dismissed a gun cost Monday in opposition to the Washington state senator who had been arrested after he carried a gun into the Chinese language territory in what he known as an “sincere mistake.” (AP Photograph/Vernon Yuen)
The Related Press
Related Press — A Hong Kong court docket dismissed a gun cost Monday in opposition to a Washington state senator who had been arrested after he carried a gun into the Chinese language territory in what he known as an “sincere mistake.”
Republican Jeff Wilson self-declared he was carrying the gun on the airport Oct. 21, has a transparent prison document in Hong Kong and made his admission in an open method, the prosecution stated on the court docket listening to.
Principal Justice of the Peace Don So permitted the association for a bind-over order somewhat than a plea to possessing an unlicensed firearm, saying he was inclined to imagine Wilson was harmless.
The bind-over order requires Wilson to maintain the peace and keep away from committing additional firearms offenses for 2 years. The Justice of the Peace stated Wilson can be fined 2,000 Hong Kong {dollars} ($255) for breaching the order if he would not comply.
With the case disbursed with out a conviction, Wilson is free to go away the territory. An announcement posted earlier on the Longview lawmaker’s web site had stated whereas the gun was not registered in Hong Kong it’s registered in Washington.
Hong Kong has stricter gun legal guidelines than the USA. These convicted of carrying a firearm with out a license will be fined as much as 100,000 Hong Kong {dollars} ($12,800) and sentenced to as much as 14 years in jail.
In accordance with his web site, Wilson was touring along with his spouse for a five-week trip in Southeast Asia. He found the weapon through the flight between San Francisco and Hong Kong, it stated.
The court docket heard that Wilson had advised a customs inspector it was “a horrible accident” after his arrest. His baggage had handed via safety in Portland earlier than he transited in San Francisco, he stated throughout an earlier interview with the inspector.
