Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Hong Kong mother jailed for splashing drain cleaner on her young lover

HONG KONG — A mother of two who splashed drain cleaner on her young lover which led to his inability to close his right eye was jailed for six years and eight months on Wednesday (Feb 22).

Reuters file photo

Reuters file photo

HONG KONG — A mother of two who splashed drain cleaner on her young lover which led to his inability to close his right eye was jailed for six years and eight months on Wednesday (Feb 22).

The High Court heard the attack in May 2015 came after Cheung Chun-oi, 49, broke up with Shek Ka-on, 26, and aborted their child as she felt he did not seem to care.

Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping said: “It is very sad to deal with this type of case, where emotions are involved. It’s very difficult to determine how much each party has suffered both emotionally and physically.”

But she said there had to be a serious deterrent sentence as throwing acid was “so easy to commit and the result is so frightening for the victim”.

That was especially so when the judge found the “vicious and vengeful assault” was not committed in the heat of the moment, contrary to Cheung’s claim that she picked up the cleaner from an alley while she was smoking.

“There’s no doubt that the defendant was there in the alley waiting for the victim,” the judge ruled. “The way the acid was thrown at him was intended to cause the most serious injury.”

Cheung pleaded guilty last month to one count of throwing corrosive fluid with intent.

Justice Toh said throwing acid was “the most heinous offence that one can think of”, as reflected in the legislature approving a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the offence.

Medical reports found Shek was recovering from chemical burns that covered 6 per cent of his body.

But a clinical psychologist noted that he had become very anxious about how others reacted to his disfiguration and that it had affected his day-to-day interaction with people.

“The victim has demonstrated great strength and effort in going out into public places,” the psychologist said. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.