The manhunt for illegal dentist Tung Sheng (David) Wu is over, after he surrendered himself to Toronto police on Saturday.
Wu, 62, was found guilty of illegally practising dentistry in Metro Vancouver, including Burnaby, in a B.C. Supreme Court ruling in October. He avoided all court dates and was in hiding until Nov. 16, when he turned himself in. Wu was sentenced to three months jail time for being in contempt of court for his illegal dental practice.
He appeared in Toronto court on Nov. 18 for a bail hearing, according to a Toronto Police media release. The same day, the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C., which has been pursuing Wu all this time, obtained an order to bring the illegal dentist back to this province.
“Dentists registered with the College of Dental Surgeons are required to put the health and safety of their patients above all other considerations,” said Jerome Marburg, College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. CEO and registrar, in a statement. “People like Mr. Wu are in business for personal gain only, purely for profit, and put their patients’ health at risk. They are neither qualified to practise, nor do they implement the infection control and other safety measures required to protect their patients.”
Marburg added that he anticipates B.C. sheriffs will soon be on their way to Ontario to collect Wu, who will then “appear in front of the judge to answer for his contempt and to serve his sentence.”
Last August, Wu was found in breach of a 2003 court order prohibiting him from practising dentistry. A warrant was issued for his arrest and a permanent injunction was filed against him.
When a former patient lodged a complaint with the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. against Wu, it sparked the initial investigation in late May. Wu was operating an illegal dentistry practice out of his Burnaby home.
"He is a person without honour or regard for Canadian civil society," said Marburg in a previous interview with the NOW. "He preyed on the vulnerable and put many people's lives at risk."
Wu was illegally practising on about 1,500 clients, and they were told to get tested for Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus and HIV because his practice did not meet the college's infection prevention and control requirements.
More than 450 people, identifying themselves as former Wu patients, have come forward to the health authorities.
The dental college covered costs for the private investigation and court proceedings against Wu, which has cost more than $140,000.
