Posted on: Tuesday, April 30, 2002

Palolo man gets life imprisonment

Advertiser Staff

A 48-year-old Palolo man who pleaded guilty in February to manslaughter in connection with the beating death of his landlord was sentenced yesterday to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Circuit Judge Karen Ahn ordered Wesley K. Chong to serve at least six years and eight months of the sentence before he is eligible for parole because the victim, Edgar Lum, was 64 at the time Chong hit him in the head repeatedly with a can of food following an eviction dispute.

Chong also received a longer than usual sentence because he is a repeat offender.

Deputy Public Defender Todd Eddins told Ahn that Chong turned himself into police after the assault and cooperated with them.