Man accused of biting ear off Hong Kong district councillor charged with malicious assault
- Chen did not appear in Eastern Magistrates’ Court as he was undergoing treatment at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
- He is expected to be brought to the court on Friday if he is discharged by then
A retired man accused of biting off part of a district councillor’s ear over the weekend has been charged with malicious assault in a Hong Kong court.
But Joe Chen, 48 – who also allegedly wounded two others in the same attack – did not appear in Eastern Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday as he was undergoing treatment at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.
On Sunday evening, a man was captured on a video clip biting off the left ear of Taikoo Shing West district councillor Andrew Chiu Ka-yin outside the Cityplaza mall in the neighbourhood. He also attacked a few others with a knife before he was caught and beaten up.
Prosecutors on Tuesday charged Chen with one count of causing grievous bodily harm on Chiu with intent on November 3. He has been accused of “unlawfully and maliciously” assaulting Chiu.
He also faced two extra counts of wounding Louis Wan Ho-lun and Leung Pik-kei with intent. Both offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.