Ex-supporter jailed for Gary Cheng attack

A disillusioned former supporter of Gary Cheng Kai-nam who gave the ex-legislator a public thrashing with a rattan cane was yesterday jailed for two months.

Hassan Shun Ming, 28, who has nine convictions, some for similar offences, had admitted one count of common assault after repeatedly hitting Cheng on the head on July 27 outside the District Court, where Cheng had appeared on misconduct charges.

Eastern Court magistrate Robert McNair said: 'I can accept you were shocked and disappointed at the circumstances leading to the charging of the victim in the District Court - many people were. But persons appearing in the courts of Hong Kong are entitled to do so without concerns about being the victims of a sustained public beating such as this one.'

Hassan's solicitor James Li Lap-boon requested a non-custodial sentence, saying his client was overwhelmingly frustrated at Cheng's behaviour. 'The defendant was a former supporter who truly believed Cheng would fight for the welfare of the people of Hong Kong,' he said.

The 'straw that broke the camel's back was that Cheng pleaded not guilty and wanted to raise $500,000 for his defence . . . which Hassan perceived as an act of shamelessness'.

Cheng is due to appear in the District Court in December to face five charges: misconduct in public office, accepting an advantage as a Legislative Council member, false accounting and two counts of theft.

'[Hassan] has a criminal record, but that just reflects his hot temper and temperamental nature . . . he is not a hard-core criminal,' Mr Li said, adding Cheng was not seriously injured.