Justice-seeking mother urges murder suspect to surrender

The mother of Poon Hiu-wing, whose death sparked off Hong Kong's anti-fugitive bill protests, said suspect Chan Tong-kai should not use the pandemic as an excuse to postpone his surrender to Taiwan authorities.

Poon was 20 when she was allegedly killed by her then boyfriend Chan.

The mother told local media she was frustrated that Chan, 21, has been placed under police protection since his release from prison last October. He had served a 29-month sentence for money laundering after handling Poon's property following her death.

Chan cannot be tried in Hong Kong for the alleged murder in Taiwan in February 2018, but he promised to surrender to Taiwanese authorities while apologizing to Poon's family on his release from Pik Uk Prison in Sai Kung.

"He was already an adult when he committed the crime. It's been almost a year since his release and he's in his 20s now," Poon's mother said, describing the wait for justice for her daughter as "never-ending."

"If he's going to bear responsibility for his big mistake, he should keep his promise as soon as possible."

Reverend Peter Koon Ho-ming, who has been helping Chan, said: "From the beginning, Tong-kai has not had any thought of escaping his responsibility.

"If he did, he would not have admitted [his crime] when he returned to Hong Kong, which would not have caused the extradition bill protests."

Koon said he and lawyers will travel to Taiwan and discuss Chan's surrender when travel restrictions are lifted.

Referring to the statement from Poon's mother, Koon said he wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible and believes God would put an end to the case.

Poon's death triggered Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's proposal to amend the fugitive law to extradite criminals between Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland.

But many expressed concerns about setting up a fugitive-surrender system with the mainland.

The bill sparked massive anti-fugitive rallies and unrest from June last year. The government announced the withdrawal of the bill last September, but protests escalated.

Poon's mother said she was sad and guilty to see her daughter's case become the cause of political turmoil, and that she had sought help from the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong to push forward a fugitive surrender system between the SAR and Taiwan.

Because of that, she said, she suffered from depression. She is also suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The mother is currently taking two types of psychiatric medication and is in regular consultations with psychologists and psychiatrists.

"Sometimes I feel I am useless and very guilty. I am not able to do anything as a mother," she said.

"I can't even seek justice for my daughter."

Having previously mourned at the location where Poon was found - around the bushes outside the Taipei Metro Zhuwei Station - she described the area as pungent, with wild dogs and insects.

"A girl in her pajamas being left at a deserted site - it must have been extremely unbearable," she said.

"I cannot describe how disheartening it is."