Man arrested on suspicion of killing 10 turtles with pencils at Hong Kong hospital
Pencils and sharpeners found in suspect’s flat in Chai Wan
A man from Chai Wan was arrested on Thursday evening in connection with the killing of 10 turtles, which were found stabbed with pencils at a public hospital.
Six were confirmed dead at the site. The remaining four were treated at the Wan Chai centre of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, but died days later.
On September 20, two terrapins, one dead and one injured, were found at the pond. The injured animal survived and was put back in the pond after treatment.
The 60-year-old suspect was arrested in a flat in Tsui Yee House in Wan Tsui Estate. Officers found pencils and pencil sharpeners in the flat, where the man lived alone.
A police source said the unemployed suspect had been staying at the hospital for orthopaedic problems in his waist when both incidents took place.
According to the source, the man’s sister said he had sought help for mental issues, and nursing staff at the hospital had noted that he was “very bad-tempered”.
Any person who cruelly ill-treats, tortures, terrifies or causes any unnecessary suffering to an animal faces a maximum penalty of three years in jail and a HK$200,000 fine.
