Washington state senator arrested in Hong Kong for gun possession and granted bail

HONG KONG — A Washington state senator was once arrested in Hong Kong for wearing a gun that was once now not registered in the semi-autonomous Chinese town, his website online and native media reported. He was once launched on bail on Monday.

Jeff Wilson, a Republican from Longview, was once arrested after touchdown on the Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday. Wilson was once touring together with his spouse for a five-week holiday in Southeast Asia, his website online stated.

His gun was once now not registered in the monetary hub however is registered in Washington, the remark added.

According to Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK, Wilson gave the impression in court docket Monday to stand the price of possession of hands with no license and was once granted bail.

“It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,” he was once quoted as announcing on his website online. It stated Wilson’s subsequent listening to is due on Oct. 30.

After Monday’s listening to on the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts, Wilson needed to give up his shuttle paperwork, the native newspaper The Standard reported. It stated the following listening to will happen on the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.

Hong Kong’s Customs and Excise Department declined to remark as prison complaints are ongoing.

Under Hong Kong legislation, it’s unlawful to hold a firearm with no license. Offenders face a superb of as much as 100,000 Hong Kong bucks ($12,800) and can also be sentenced to as much as 14 years if convicted. However, normally the Magistrates’ Courts grant a most two-year sentence for instances they deal with, the judiciary’s website online stated.

According to Wilson’s website online, he had found out the weapon mid-flight between San Francisco and Hong Kong and reported it to customs government on touchdown.