Seven Hong Kong policemen jailed for assault on democracy activist

Three of the seven police officers, Police Constable Lau Hing-pui (front L), Wong Wai-ho (R) and Chan Siu-tan (back), charged in connection with the beating of a protester during Occupy Central pro-democracy demonstrations, arrive at a court in Hong Kong, China February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court sentenced seven policemen to two years jail on Friday for beating a handcuffed pro-democracy activist during mass democracy protests in 2014, a rare case of police brutality in the financial hub that triggered public outrage.

The trial centred on an incident on Oct. 15, 2014, at the height of the 79-day protests that paralysed parts of Hong Kong and posed one of the most serious political challenges to Communist Party leaders in Beijing for decades.