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Hong KongLaw and Crime

Hong Kong drops charges against surgeon ruled unfit to face fatal botox trial

Dementia ruling halts 21 charges against veteran surgeon Franklin Li Wang-pong linked to probe into death of banker in botched procedure in 2018

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Hong Kong prosecutors have dropped charges against a 93-year-old plastic surgeon Franklin Li Wang-pong citing an earlier ruling that he was unfit to stand trial because of dementia. Photo: Edmond So
Brian Wong

Hong Kong prosecutors have dropped 21 charges against a 93-year-old plastic surgeon over a fatal botox injection in 2018, citing an earlier court ruling that he was unfit to stand trial because of dementia.

Dr Franklin Li Wang-pong, who was released unconditionally by the High Court last year over the unlawful killing of a top banker, was separately indicted for allegedly misleading police and failing to maintain a register of dangerous drugs at his clinic after the botched procedure came to light.

Prosecutors told Kowloon City Court on Monday that they would withdraw all remaining charges against Li because he was unfit to enter a plea, a conclusion unanimously reached by a jury in his manslaughter case.

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The decision brings all criminal cases against Li to an end, although the surgeon and his family still face civil claims filed by the late banker’s relatives.

Zoe Cheung Shuk-ling, managing director of Swiss private bank Julius Baer in Hong Kong, died aged 52 after suffering hypoxic brain damage caused by oversedation at Li’s clinic in Grand Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, on November 11, 2018.

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Li, his wife, Veronica Li Lau Wei-chue, and their son, Dr Konrad Li Ming-sheng, did not immediately call an ambulance after Cheung fell into a coma and instead attempted to resuscitate her using a bag-valve device.

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