Hong Kong family of woman who died during plastic surgery withdraws lawsuit against South Korean clinic
- Bonnie Evita Law, 34-year-old tycoon’s daughter, died during liposuction and breast augmentation procedures in South Korea
- The writ accused Ollim Plastic Surgery clinic of manslaughter but her husband drops legal action after police sprang into action
The Hong Kong tycoon family of a 34-year-old woman who died during plastic surgery has withdrawn its lawsuit against a South Korean clinic, saying the threat of legal action had fulfilled its aim of forcing police into action.
Danny Chi revealed the move on Monday afternoon after his wife Bonnie Evita Law died during liposuction and breast augmentation procedures in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district on January 28.
Law’s grandfather was late textile tycoon Law Ting-pong who founded the Bossini clothing chain.
She was one of three children fathered by Raymond Law Ka-kui, the late magnate’s youngest son and a property investor who was involved in some of the city’s biggest development projects.
“To my legal team: I inform you that I am dropping the lawsuit,” Chi posted in a Facebook message verified by the Post.
“Compensation will not bring my wife and the mother of my son back, but the police will bring justice.”
South Korean plastic surgery clinic target of lawsuit after heiress’ death
The widower told the Post that the purpose of filing the high-profile lawsuit last week was to pressure the South Korean police into acting swiftly and expose the identity of the accused surgeons and clinic.
“The police are now taking the case seriously. [The lawsuit] raised awareness and made a difference,” Chi said. “My aim was not to seek damages.”
He believed his lawsuit prompted law enforcement in South Korea to contact him last week to update the family on the progress of the criminal investigation and the status of the clinic.
The clinic continued to operate for more than a month after Law’s death until a Post report last Wednesday, which revealed Law’s identity and the names of the accused surgeons and clinics referred to in the writ.
Its website is now closed and the clinic could not be contacted by phone.
Chi said the family went down the lawsuit route to heap pressure on the clinic, on the understanding the names of accused parties in South Korea could not be published by local media until legal procedures had started.
He also said his family’s loss of a third of his father-in-law’s estate on his wife’s death was referred to when seeking unspecified damages because he wanted to “make more noise” so similar tragedies could be avoided.
According to the writ he filed to launch the personal injury action, seen by the Post, the surgery was mainly performed by Kim Sung-il, a surgeon who claimed to have 10 years of experience as a medical practitioner, and was assisted by surgeon Jung Tae-gwang and nurse Park Mi-soo.
Hong Kong woman dies after liposuction surgery in South Korea
It alleged that no anaesthetists were present during the operation and Kim had instructed Jung to inject a mixture of sedatives including ketamine and midazolam into Law, who suffered complications and was declared dead an hour after being admitted to hospital.
Jung has approached the Post through a source, saying he did not work with Kim in the clinic or take part in any procedures involving Law. He said his only role was to drive Kim on his request to the hospital where Law was being treated after the surgery.
The source said Korean police planned to question Jung on Tuesday. “I believe their CCTV footage obtained will prove him innocent,” the source said.
The Post has approached the Korean National Police Agency for comment.
