Police will not charge a prominent Hong Kong basketball coach filmed slapping a student two years ago, citing insufficient evidence.
In a reply to the South China Morning Post on Friday, the force said it would not prosecute Yung Kam-wah, who was arrested in June this year on suspicion of common assault for physically punishing a secondary student at Hon Wah College in Siu Sai Wan.
“Following an in-depth investigation, police have found insufficient evidence to institute prosecution against anyone and have notified the relevant parties of the investigation results,” police said in their reply.
A video showing the incident surfaced in June this year. Yung apologised after the clip went viral and sparked public concern.
In the footage, Yung is seen taking a jacket from the boy’s hand and throwing it to the ground. He then grabs the student’s left hand and uses it to slap the boy’s left cheek three times in quick succession.
After a brief pause, and without releasing the boy’s hand, Yung strikes the student’s cheek three more times with his own left hand, with the force visibly moving the boy’s hair.