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Robin Jolly appears at Kowloon City Court, to face charges over what he claimed was just horseplay between teammates. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Former policeman accused of assault in hockey slap

Teammate was left with a 40 per cent rupture in his left ear drum

A retired police superintendent was on Wednesday accused of slapping his hockey teammate so hard that he suffered 40 per cent rupture in his left ear drum after their game at the Kowloon Cricket Club in May last year.

Robin James-Charles Jolly told Kowloon City Court: “I do not recall having done that.” He pleaded not guilty to a count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

His alleged victim, Ditta Allah Dad, 54, told deputy magistrate Leung Ka-kie that Jolly, 59, slapped his left cheek with his right hand when he was about to leave their post-game gathering on May 17.

“It was very painful,” the Pakistani marketing director said. He recalled feeling dizzy and said water leaked from his ear. But he did not call for help until returning to the Jordan club four hours later.

Ditta said he delayed treatment because he needed to take his mother to the doctor in Yuen Long before returning to Jordan to buy his friend a gift.

Ditta Allah Dad agreed he had “no history of bad blood” with Jolly. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

A doctor at Queen Elizabeth Hospital said his left ear had traumatic perforation of 40 per cent, with his hearing impaired by up to 40 decibels.

Ditta denied he was injured in what defence counsel Kevin Egan had described as a “boisterous” hockey match. But he agreed with a defence suggestion that he had “no history of bad blood, grudges or disagreement” with Jolly, his team captain who nominated him for player of the year.

Jolly conceded that it was possible he “patted” Ditta.

But he said it was no more than horseplay in congratulating a teammate in a very physical sport, so he did not expect a negative reaction to “positive stimulus”.

“This is not the age of homophobia where men don’t touch each other,” he said.

“A pat on the back or cheek is almost synonymous with a compliment ... I certainly meant no harm.”

The verdict is scheduled for July 26.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Former policeman denies assault after hockey match
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