Medical watchdog faces questions after revelations doctor arrested over suspected Botox death in Hong Kong was involved in fatal beauty treatment case in 2003
- Dr Franklin Li was involved in fatal liposuction procedure in 2003 and had licence suspended by the Medical Council in 2009
- Top banker Zoe Cheung died on Monday after receiving Botox injections at Li’s clinic inside Grand Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong’s medical watchdog faces scrutiny over a decision to restore a veteran plastic surgeon’s licence after he was arrested over a suspected fatal Botox injection – despite having being involved in another fatal beauty treatment case 15 years ago.
Dr Franklin Li Wang-pong was arrested on Monday for breaching the dangerous drugs ordinance and misleading police following the death of top banker Zoe Cheung Shuk-ling, 52, who died after receiving Botox injections at Li’s clinic inside the Grand Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui the previous day.
Swiss private bank Julius Baer on Tuesday confirmed Cheung was a managing director and senior relationship manager at the bank and expressed their “deepest condolences” to her family.
Industry sources said the victim was formerly a veteran at Merrill Lynch, which had 18 of its international wealth management businesses acquired by Julius Baer in 2015.
Lam Yuen-ling, chief inspector of Yau Tsim district, said on Monday dangerous drugs were found at the clinic, which did not keep a register of drug quantities it held, as required by law. Li was also said to have changed his story regarding the incident on Sunday evening.
