Father arrested after boy, 8, was dragged to refuse room at Sai Wan Ho building as punishment

Police arrested a 53-year-old father on Monday night after the father allegedly dragged his eight-year-old son to the refuse room at a Sai Wan Ho building where they lived as punishment.

Officers were called to the building at 29 Shau Kei Wan Road at about 7 pm last night by the boy’s mother.

Sources said the mother returned home and found minor swelling on her son’s abdomen that night, while the son revealed that he was earlier dragged into the refuse room by his father for punishment after he failed to do his revision.

The son was said to be left alone in the refuse room until the father ordered their maid to take him home for a shower. The maid spotted the son’s injuries and reported the incident to the mother, who then filed a police report.

After an initial investigation, police arrested the father, Chiu, on suspicion of child cruelty.

Under the Offences Against the Person Ordinance, anyone wilfully assaulting, ill-treating, or neglecting a child under the age of 16 under their care in a manner likely to cause the child injury is guilty of an offense.

If convicted, the maximum penalty is ten years in jail.