Man jailed 9 years for stabbing lawmaker

A man who stabbed legislator Junius Ho Kwan-yiu two years ago in broad daylight at Tuen Mun was sentenced to nine years in jail on Monday at the High Court of Hong Kong.

Tung Pak-fai, 31-years-old and unemployed, pleaded guilty to one count of wounding with intent and another count of wounding last month.

In passing down the sentence, Judge Esther Toh Lye-ping said it is not acceptable for such violence and the political dispute is no excuse for such a violent and irrational attack on the street.  Toh said the convicted man's behavior was premeditated, as he had visited the street booth where the attack took place in advance and carried two knives in his bag. 

Apart from one count of wounding, Tung also was charged with one count of attempted murder and was later replaced with the alternative charge of wounding with intent.

On Nov 6, 2019, Tung, posing as Ho's supporter, approached Ho when the lawmaker was canvassing support at a street booth. Tung, pretending to take out his cellphone for a photo with Ho, took a knife from his bag instead to stab Ho. Ho's left chest sustained a two-centimeter deep wound. Tung was subsequently subdued.  Ho's bodyguard also was injured during the scuffle. The court was told the assailant wandered near the street booth on Nov 4 and 5 and checked with volunteers at the booth as to whether Ho would appear. 

Ho was discharged from the hospital two days after the incident.