A veteran Hong Kong basketball coach has been arrested on suspicion of common assault after he was seen in a video slapping a young player, the South China Morning Post has learned.
A source said that Yung Kam-wah was arrested on Monday and released on bail early on Tuesday, adding that he must report to police in July.
In reply to queries from the SCMP, police said on Tuesday that a 54-year-old man had been arrested for alleged common assault the previous day and had been released on bail pending further investigation.
They added that the man was required to report to police in late July and officers in Eastern district were following up on the case.
Under the law, a person convicted of common assault is guilty of an offence triable either summarily or on indictment and is liable to imprisonment for up to one year.
Yung apologised last week over the incident, which took place two years ago, after the video recently went viral and sparked public concern.
In the clip, Yung takes a jacket from the boy’s hand and throws 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.
He then releases the boy’s hand and gestures at him, prompting the student to slap his own right cheek again. The incident occurs in a school playground with other students around them.
The SCMP earlier learned that the Form Two student, from Hon Wah College in Siu Sai Wan, was punished for being late and was accused of neglecting basketball training.
According to a letter issued to parents by the college, the incident occurred during the 2023-24 school year and the coach involved has been suspended. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
