Hong Kong legislator Junius Ho Kwan-yiu. Photo: VCG

The man who stabbed Hong Kong's pro-establishment legislator Junius Ho Kwan-yiu in 2019 during a district election has been sentenced to nine years in prison, after he confessed his assault was on purpose, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said on Monday. However, Ho said the final verdict is unfair as the court decided to charge the man of intentional assault rather than the original charge of intentional murder. Ho said the man's intentions to kill were clear when the man stabbed him on his chest in 2019.

Tung Pak-fai, 31 and unemployed, pleaded guilty to wounding Junius Ho and his bodyguard with intent during a district election campaign on November 6, 2019, but denied attempting to murder the politician, which had been the original charge, local media hk01.com reported on Monday. 

In sentencing Tung, the judge said that the defendant's conduct was intolerable regardless of whether political reasons were behind the crime.

Ho said the final verdict is unfair, and accused the Hong Kong Department of Justice of delaying and underperforming their duties, saying that he will continue to seek justice at the Legislative Council of HKSAR.

"I waited for more than a year and a half for the trial against the defendant over charges of intended murder, and the case was finally scheduled to open this August. However, two weeks ahead of the trial, I was told that that the defendant admitted to intentional assaults in exchange for the original charge, when in fact his attempts to murder had been loud and clear," Ho told the Global Times on Monday.

The case's connection to the period of anti-government riots in 2019 has a significant role to play to warn the secessionists, Ho said, noting that if the justice department continues to fail to deliver their duties, the National Security Law for Hong Kong will also likely to be affected.

Ho was attacked in Tuen Mun during on November 6, 2019, by a man in blue shirt. The man approached Ho with a bouquet of flowers pretending to be his supporter. 

After a brief conversation between the two, the man suddenly stabbed Ho in the chest with a knife, according to a video released shortly after the incident. 

"The attack came very suddenly and left a wound of 2 centimeters deep. Luckily, the knife did not reach my heart. I believe the perpetrator had some mental issues. We all need to be careful. I will be back to work as soon as possible," said Ho.