The Department of Justice today refuted allegations of "political prosecutions" regarding two recent court hearings in which sentences were reviewed.
The department made the statement today in response to concerns about the Court of Appeal cases involving 13 people taking part in an unlawful assembly outside the Legislative Council building in 2014, and the case involving Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow storming "Civic Square" the same year.
The department said in reviewing the sentences, the Court of Appeal took into account the number of community service hours served by the defendants, and made discounts to the jail sentences.
This is consistent with the court's practice and there is no question of double jeopardy or being sentenced twice, it said.
The cases were handled according to the law, and there is no question of "political prosecutions", it added.
It also rejected claims of a vendetta, emphasising the defendants had yet to start their community service when the applications for review were made.
