A restaurant owner who told an Armidale magistrate “f--- your mother” in Cantonese during court proceedings has been convicted of damaging property.
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Thomas Au-Yeung, 70, pleaded guilty to two counts of damaging property and in a separate matter has not entered a plea to a charge of indecent assault of a person under 16.
Interpreter Theresa Lee was sworn in at the beginning of the proceedings and Au-Yeung, who is hard of hearing, stood beside her at the microphone.
Au-Yeung said something in Cantonese into the microphone, when Magistrate Michael Holmes asked for a translation, Ms Lee replied, “He said, “f--- your mother”.
The accused has lived in Tenterfield for the past 30 years, the court heard, and runs a successful Chinese restaurant there.
Au-Yeung damaged a tire on December 7, and damaged property again on December 23.
In the words of his wife, he is losing his mind to an extent.
- Doug Bassett
Defence solicitor Doug Bassett said his client had no reasonable explanation for his behaviour, but that in the words of Au-Yeung’s wife, he is “losing his mind to a certain extent”.
“My client drove to Brisbane and had a flat tyre, when he inspected it he found a knife in it, he still has the tire at home,” Mr Bassett said.
“He can understand English but the hearing is a real difficulty, with his wife we’ve agreed he needs to get some form of counselling and for that to occur he needs some hearing aids.”
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Au-Yeung has no prior criminal history and is usually of good character, the court heard.
He is charged with indecently assaulting a person under 16 on January 22 between 1:30pm and 5pm in Tenterfield, but did not enter a plea on Wednesday.
Mr Holmes told Au-Yeung he had given him a fair sentence because of his good reputation and clear criminal history in Australia.
“You have lived here for many, many years so it’s important to get these issues fixed,” he said.
In the AVO matter, Au-Yeung was ordered to stay away from the protected person for three years.
For the destroy and damage property matters he was ordered to pay $335 total in compensation to the victims and fined $500.
He was put on a good behaviour bond for 18 months, and will return to court to face the indecent assault matter on May 23, bail to continue.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
