Man slapped with 26-month jail term for attacking dentist

A 69-year-old retired man was sentenced to two years and two months in prison for attacking his dentist with a pair of scissors in August last year in retaliation for his prolonged tooth pain following a surgery.

In a court hearing at the District Court on Tuesday, deputy district judge Katherine Lo Kit-yee handed down the jail sentence for Yuen Pak-hung, who pleaded guilty to one count of wounding with intent.

Lo believed that Yuen’s crime was premeditated as he bought a pair of scissors on the day of the attack, and waited for the dentist at the scene.

The judge also rejected Yuen’s arguments that he committed the offense under provocation because he suffered prolonged tooth pain following the dentist’s treatment.

Lo said any issue or complaint related to dental treatments should be brought before the Dental Council of Hong Kong, but the defendant chose violence, having acted foolishly and recklessly.

Lo also pointed out that the pair of scissors, with blades of 8 centimeters, was considered a fatal weapon, and that the assault almost hurt the artery of the dentist.

The judge said the starting sentence was three years and three months’ imprisonment, but eventually reduced the jail term to two years and two months for the guilty plea.

The court has heard that Yuen received dental treatments from dentist Lau Chung-yan in July last year. A month later, when Lau was leaving the clinic in Tung Tau Estate, Yuen allegedly stabbed the dentist in the ear and back with a pair of scissors.

Yuen fled the scene after a passer-by called the police when he saw the struggle. Police later arrested him in a residential block in the same estate, which was where he lived.

(Jamie Liu)