Five Hong Kong residents jailed for vigilante attack on man who bit off ex-politician’s ear

The attacker suffered serious injuries after a group of bystanders, including the five defendants, took revenge on him.

“The consequences could have been dire if Joe Chen had committed further attacks on passing residents due to the repeated provocations of his attackers,” said Ko. “The attacks by the defendants in this case posed a very serious danger to the people in the neighborhood.”

Four of the five defendants: barista Cheung Yun-fung, 27, waiter Yung Chi-keung, 34, animal shelter volunteer Cheng Long-wing, 27, and freelance music producer Tsui Chun-kit, 22, pleaded guilty to rioting and wounding with intent. Yung also admitted possessing an offensive weapon.

A sixth defendant was acquitted because the court recognized that he had used reasonable force to stop Chen’s attack.

Chung, who attacked Chen on the head with a folded umbrella, was sentenced to the maximum prison term of five years and three months because he was not eligible for a reduced sentence reserved for those who plead guilty.

Tsui, a former representative of the Hong Kong kabaddi team, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after he was seen attempting to jump on Chen after he fell to the ground.

Cheung was sentenced to three years and 11 months in prison for beating Chen, while Yung and Cheng each received three and a half years in prison for hitting him with a baton and throwing objects at him respectively.

Chen paid his four victims a total of HK$3.93 million (US$503,000) in compensation and sold his family home to raise the money.

The former businessman has also sued the six defendants in the present proceedings for damages.