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Hong Kong authorities release Indonesian comedians
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Indonesian consul general to Hong Kong Tri Tharyat (second right) speaks to reporters at the Foreign Ministry office on Feb. 9. (Kompas.com/Moh Nadlir)
Hong Kong authorities have released two Indonesian comedians who were arrested for violating the territory’s immigration law.
Yudo Prasetyo and Deni Afriandi, better known by their stage names Cak Yudo and Cak Precil, previously faced court in Hong Kong and were found guilty of using a tourist visa to stage a commercial performance.
On Wednesday, however, Yudo and Deni – who had been detained since Feb. 4 – were released after Hong Kong’s Shatin Court sentenced them to six weeks in prison with an 18-month trial period.
"I am thankful that the judges seriously considered the attention and assistance from the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Hong Kong, as well as the letter I wrote on behalf of the Indonesian government,” said Tri Tharyat, Indonesian consul general to Hong Kong, in a press statement received by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
He added that in the letter, he urged the Hong Kong authorities to decide on “the fairest punishment” for both comedians.
Yudo and Deni were apprehended by the authorities last month after they staged a performance in front of a crowd from the Indonesian migrant worker community in Hong Kong. They were found guilty of receiving payment from the event organizer after entering the territory using tourist visas.
The comedians, who come from East Java, were taken to the immigration detention center and later transferred to the Lai Chi Kok prison as their trial took place.
"The judge believed there were special circumstances in the case of these two comedians […] and the judge also considered the guilty pleas of both defendants," Tri said, adding that the Hong Kong Consulate General was preparing for the return of the comedians to the country.
