A 36-year-old Hong Kong mother of three admitted abusing her child in Shatin Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after she beat her five-year-old son with a rattan cane in January.
Tsang Mei-ki, who has two daughters and a son, pleaded guilty to one count of wilful assault causing injury to a child.
On January 15, Tsang punished her boy in their Tai Wai home in the New Territories because he hid his sisters’ HK$10 (US$1.28) notes under his pillow, Sing Tao Daily.
Tsang brought her son back to a Po Leung Kuk home, which has been taking care of the boy since birth because of the mother’s inability to raise him.
She told a staff member that she had beaten her son because he was naughty. The staff member called police, who sent the boy to hospital.
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Medical reports said there were 15 new and four old line-shaped scars on the boy’s arms, legs and chest. Police arrested the woman, who was charged with one count of wilful assault causing injury to a child.
Acting Principal Magistrate So Wai-tak said Tsang, who only had one weekly meeting with her son from Friday evening till Sunday because of her drug-related criminal record, should treasure the time when they were together. So said punishing children with a rattan cane was inappropriate nowadays, Apple Daily reported.
Tsang was granted HK$500 bail, pending sentencing on June 22.