Man Suspected of Throwing Acid on Visiting Chinese Teacher a Day After He Was Released from Jail

Mar. 15, 2025

Sebastian Mahkwan.Photo:The Hawai’i Department of Public Safety; Honolulu Police Department

The Hawai’i Department of Public Safety; Honolulu Police Department

Police in Hawaii have arrested and charged a man in connection with an alleged acid attack on a woman in Honolulu on Jan. 23, authorities say.

The victim has been identified as a 25-year-old visiting teacher from China, Danying Zhang, according to theHonolulu Star-Advertiser,Island NewsandHawaii News Now.

She was allegedly attacked while on a walk in the evening outside a mall, the Honolulu Police Department said in astatementlast week.

On Jan. 25, Honolulu authorities arrested a 29-year-old man, they said in an updated statement. He was identified as Sebastian Mahkwan in astatementfrom the prosecuting attorney’s office.

On Tuesday, a week after the attack, a grand jury indicted Mahkwan on charges of attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the first degree, the prosecuting attorney’s office said.

“Anyone simply walking in a public place has the right to feel safe,” the statement said. “Mr. Mahkwan is accused of violating that right and critically injuring an innocent person.”

The statement further said the victim “suffered life-threatening injuries.”

Zhang is recovering and has been able to breathe without a tube for two days, one of the organizers of the fundraiser, Sonny Zhang (not related to the victim), tells PEOPLE.

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Mahkwan had been released from jail on $8,000 bail a day before the attack, theHonolulu Star-Advertiserreported. He had been detained since October on assault charges. (He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.)

His bail has now been set at $2 million, the outletreported.

Attorney information for Mahkwan was not available; he is set to be arraigned on Monday on the attempted murder charges, online court records show.

source: people.com