Sai Kung cases come to court

Two cases, one a murder trial, the other for sexual assault came to court this morning.

The first involved the murder of a woman  with a learning disabilities found dead in a village house covered with amulets in Lung Mei Village, Sai Kung earlier this year. The woman’s parents and two others were arrested. A Chinese medicine doctor was charged with murder and the case was heard  in Kwun Tong Court this morning (18/12). The prosecution alleges that the case will take time to investigate, including awaiting a post-mortem report. The judge then deferred the case until 12 February next year, and the defendant remained on remand.

The second case involved a male English teacher and class teacher of a Sai Kung Sung Tsun Catholic Primary School. Mak Lung Yee, sexually assaulted five female students who were six to nine years old from 1988 to 1994. Mak was previously convicted of eight counts of indecent assault. The case was presented for sentencing in the High Court today. The Judge  said that what Mak did was offensive and distressing, and violated the trust of the students and parents. The incident also affected the five female victims emotionally. However, considering his outstanding performance and loyalty as a teacher, his sentence was reduced by three months. Mak was sentenced to 24 months in prison.

The Judge pointed out that 57-year-old male Mak was only 27 years old 30 years ago. In the incidents reported, Mak called X, Y, Z, A, and B, the five female victims who were only six to nine years old, to come to the teacher’s table. Explaining the exercise, he reached into their skirts and touched their thighs, hips, and genitals. After the incidents, Mak  spared no effort to educate and be loved by his students. The Judge noted that he became a model teacher, but because of the case, he lost his long-term career and his favourite profession. Most of the five female victims still suffer from psychological shock.

Mak’s defence lawyer said in mitigation that Mak had suffered from stomach and lung problems. He was suspended from his post after the case was revealed, and was dismissed after his conviction. The conviction has had a significant impact on the lives of his wife and two sons aged 15 and 16. Mak was a relatively new and young teacher at the time of the incident. He was unmarried and had no children. After the incident, there has been no evidence that he committed another crime.  Mak has also lost the opportunity to teach again.