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SCMP Reporter

Canto-pop singer and actor Deep Ng Ho-hong  yesterday was acquitted of an assault charge after a court ruled the victim's statement was inconsistent.

The 22-year-old, whose real name is Ng Wai-nam,  appeared in a dark suit in Kowloon City Court charged with   assaulting Chim Chi-kin  at the Boozeroo pub in Tsim Sha Tsui on July 11. Ng denied the charge.

Magistrate Douglas Yau Tak-hong  warned Ng to 'conduct' himself in future so as to avoid facing similar situations.

The victim, 24,  told the court  Ng had forcefully dragged him by the left sleeve and pushed him out the pub door.

He had then been  beaten  by about 10 men and suffered a broken left hand and multiple abrasions.

Mr Yau found discrepancies in evidence submitted by Mr Chim after he told the court he had  shared  details of  the assault in three phone conversations with a friend.

But the friend who was  called to testify yesterday denied the details.

Mr Yau said he found it strange that during these phone conversations, Mr Chim had never mentioned Ng had forcefully dragged or pushed him but said merely that  Ng had merely  scolded him.

Another two defendants, Shum Lok-chi, 22,  a waitress at the pub, and  Yan Ching-ching,  18, were separately accused of attacking Mr Chim in the pub on the same day.

Shum pleaded guilty to one count of common assault, and was fined $2,000 and ordered to pay Chim $1,000 in compensation.

Yan was acquitted on the same charge.

Ng was previously convicted of possessing cocaine in July last year. He was fined $5,000 after  pleading guilty  following his arrest in Yau Ma Tei on June 23 last year.

Police found 0.42 grams of cocaine in his possession.

The entertainer admitted  to paying $1,800 for the drug and said it was for his own use.

Outside the court yesterday,  Ng vowed he would not risk his reputation again and said he would be careful in  choosing places to visit after work.

'I think I showed up at an inappropriate place at the wrong time,' he said.

'As an artist and a public figure, I will choose where I should go and will avoid visiting certain places other than for work in future.'



I'll watch where I hang out, says singer acquitted of assault