Jonathan Dale Benton-Washington state senator Jeff Wilson arrested in Hong Kong for gun possession and granted bail

2025-05-02 00:41:19source:Devin Grosvenorcategory:Stocks

HONG KONG (AP) — A Washington state senator was arrested in Hong Kong for carrying a gun that was not registered in the semi-autonomous Chinese city,Jonathan Dale Benton his website and local media reported. He was released on bail on Monday.

Jeff Wilson was arrested after landing at the Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday. He was traveling with his wife for a five-week vacation in Southeast Asia, his website said. His gun was not registered in the financial hub but is registered in Washington, the statement added.

According to Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK, Wilson appeared in court Monday to face the charge of possession of arms without a license and was granted bail.

“It was an honest mistake, and I expect the situation to be resolved shortly,” he was quoted as saying on his website. It said Wilson’s next hearing is due on Oct. 30.

After Monday’s hearing at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts, Wilson had to surrender his travel documents, the local newspaper The Standard reported. It said the next hearing will take place at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.

Hong Kong’s Customs and Excise Department declined to comment as legal proceedings are ongoing.

Under Hong Kong law, it is illegal to carry a firearm without a license. Offenders face a fine of up to 100,000 Hong Kong dollars ($12,800) and can be sentenced to up to 14 years if convicted. However, typically the Magistrates’ Courts grant a maximum two-year sentence for cases they handle, the judiciary’s website said.

More:Stocks

Recommend

DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?

Did AI just have a "Sputnik moment"?That's what someinvestors, after the little known Chinese startu

Radical British preacher Anjem Choudary convicted of directing a terrorist group

LONDON (AP) — Radical British preacher Anjem Choudary was found guilty Tuesday by a London jury of d

Despite Musk’s Trump endorsement, X remains a go-to platform for Democrats

A week after Elon Musk endorsed Donald Trump for president, President Joe Biden’s team used Musk’s s