What began as a minor household conflict over a damaged SIM card escalated into a suspected child abuse case after two young brothers were found injured and their father taken into police custody.
Police said officers were called to Tuen Mun Hospital late Tuesday night after a school social worker brought in the boys — aged five and four — for examination. The elder child had visible bruising on his forehead, while his younger brother had injuries to his back and lower body.
The case traces back to Monday night, when the brothers allegedly damaged the SIM card of their father’s mobile phone at their home in San Lung Tsuen, San Tin.
According to police, the 37-year-old father, surnamed Chan, became agitated during the confrontation and allegedly struck the five-year-old on the forehead, and hit the four-year-old on the buttocks and soles of his feet.
The incident first came to light on Tuesday afternoon when a teacher noticed a large bruise on the elder boy’s forehead. The matter was passed to the school social worker, who questioned the child and later accompanied both brothers to the hospital at around 6pm for medical assessment.
When the father arrived at the hospital hours later, the social worker made a police report. Officers arrested Chan on suspicion of “ill-treatment or neglect by a person in charge of a child or young person.”
An investigation is ongoing.
