Hunt for B.C.'s 'bedroom dentist' expands outside province
$2K reward offered for information leading to Tung Sheng Wu's arrest
A B.C. Supreme Court justice is expanding a warrant outside of British Columbia in an effort to find illegal dentist Tung Sheng Wu, the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. announced today.
The warrant, which was issued earlier this week but applied only in B.C., is now Canada-wide.
A $2,000 reward is also being offered by the college for any information leading to Wu's arrest after he failed to show up for a scheduled court appearance this week.
In May, the college and RCMP officers shut down one of Wu’s clinics, set up in a bedroom of his Burnaby home.
The raid found Wu, who also goes by the name David, was operating in dirty and disorganized conditions, and the college issued a public warning urging Wu's patients to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Despite being ordered to shut down, Wu was performing dental work as recently as two weeks ago out of a Coquitlam basement suite, according to affidavits filed in B.C. Supreme Court.
This week, a B.C. Supreme Court justice issued a permanent injunction preventing Wu from performing dental work again in the province.
The college said it believes Wu may be trying to move to Toronto to set up another illegal dental practice.
"They don't have any evidence that he has moved, don't have any evidence that he's in Ontario," said Jerome Marburg, registrar at the college. But "we suspect he's going to Toronto to set up business there."
Watchdog on alert
Ontario's dental watchdog said it is well aware of rogue dentist Tung Sheng (David) Wu, believed to be headed to Toronto.
Peter Trainor, president of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, said the Greater Toronto Area is already home to an underground industry of dental impostors — 21 of whom were shut down over the last several years.
"We have found microwaves in their bedrooms to act as sterilizers. We've found rudimentary chemicals they think they're washing their instruments in," he said.
Marburg said the college has found evidence of the pending move, including recovered documents, personal effects and a large quantity of dental supplies they say Wu intended to ship out of B.C.
Earlier this week Wu's leased Acura, which he intended to ship out of the province, was found to be filled with dental supplies. A van filled with Wu’s belongings set to be shipped out of the country was also intercepted.
The college is asking anyone with information about Wu's whereabouts to call a designated hotline at 1-604-209-1708.
Meanwhile, Fraser Health is urging all former patients of Wu to call their toll-free hotline at 1-855-895-7425.
Hotline calls can be answered in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Translation is available for individuals who require service in other languages.