Mother of abandoned boy released on $5,000 bail

A mother who allegedly abandoned her 12-year-old son at the accident and emergency department at Kwong Wah Hospital on July 21 was released on HK$5,000 bail after appearing in court yesterday on one count of child cruelty.

The mother, a 37-year-old yoga teacher known as CJJ, was not required to enter a plea yesterday and was granted HK$5,000 cash bail by Kowloon City principal magistrate Don So Man-lung.

But the mainland woman was banned from leaving Hong Kong and had to surrender her travel documents. She also has to report to the police twice a week.

So adjourned the case to September 11 for the prosecution to seek legal advice.

He also approved the prosecution's request to hide the identity of the boy and his mother.

The mother who returned to the mainland after allegedly abandoning her son, identified as X, in Hong Kong was arrested on Saturday night upon returning to the SAR.

She was taken to the court in a police van yesterday morning to be accused of ill-treatment or neglect of a child that was likely to cause unnecessary suffering.

The woman, wearing a face mask during the hearing, appeared to be calm in the dock and said she understood the charge. She also wore a cap and a pair of sunglasses when leaving the court after she was released on bail

She was escorted by a police officer when she walked for a taxi and did not answer reporters' questions including whether she would arrange to take her son back to the mainland or whether she regrets leaving the boy alone in Hong Kong.

According to the Offences against the Person Ordinance, a person convicted of ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child or young person could be imprisoned for up to 10 years.