Man touched domestic helper’s breast for ‘sweat problem’ but court rules it doesn't prove indecent assault
Sunday, 2 Jun 20197:20 AM MYT
by chris lau
A 75-year-old man accused of molesting a domestic helper by claiming he had to inspect her “sweat problem” walked free from a Hong Kong court on Friday.
West Kowloon Court found Lei Hen-fang had touched the helper’s breast, but the contact alone did not prove his guilt.
“Although the court is sure the defendant touched the [helper’s] breast, it is not proven as to when and where he did it and whether the [helper] disagreed with him doing so,” magistrate Edward Wong Ching-yu said.
Lei, who is retired, was accused of molesting the Indonesian domestic helper, 26, on six occasions between June 16 and 20 in 2017. The helper, referred to as X in court, worked for Lei’s son who was travelling overseas at the time.
He made X jump 20 times before he touched her breasts, the court heard, and then asked X to let him massage her breasts, a procedure he said could help with her sweat problem.
X also claimed Lei told her she could lose her job if the sweating problem persisted. She suffered further assaults, lasting between 15 and 30 minutes, in the next few days.
Lei pleaded not guilty to six counts of indecent assault.
On Friday, the magistrate said it seemed to him the alleged assaults had been lengthy ones, involving a series of actions. Nonetheless, he said, X had never protested against them.
X testified she was afraid of being sent back home for defying Lei, who had threatened her with the loss of her job.
Wong pointed out that the threat only came after the defendant had touched her breasts for the first time.
X made a recording during which Lei admitted touching her breasts, but Wong said the audio clip only proved physical contact.
The magistrate also said X gave a version of events in court that was different to the one she had told police officers during the investigation.
He also heard that X had sent messages to Lei, thanking him at one point. He called the act “perplexing”.
Wong therefore concluded that X’s testimony was unreasonable and “intrinsically inconsistent”.
Domestic helper ‘raped twice by employer’ kept evidence of attack
More from South China Morning Post:
Indonesian domestic helper ‘raped twice by Hong Kong employer’ kept evidence of attack on underwear, court told
Filipino domestic helper made up claims of indecent assault against employer because she needed reason to leave without being fired, defence says
For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019.
Read more at https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3012596/man-touched-domestic-helpers-breast-inspect-her-sweat#4WTQDgSRqusHvAkj.99
Indonesian domestic helper ‘raped twice by Hong Kong employer’ kept evidence of attack on underwear, court told
Prosecutor says assaults took place within two weeks of woman beginning her employment with accused
Chris Lau
Published: 6:48pm, 18 Jan, 2019
Man who touched helper’s breast to check ‘sweat problem’ not guilty of assault
31 May 2019
The domestic helper, referred to as X in court, was raped and assaulted by her employer on four separate occasions, a Hong Kong court heard. Photo: SCMP Archive
A foreign domestic worker kept traces of her employer’s semen to expose him after he raped her twice, a Hong Kong court heard on Friday.
After being assaulted for a second time, the Indonesian helper transferred the bodily fluid she claimed Tsang Wai-sun left on her on to her underwear and reported the incident to police, prosecutor Sabrina See told the High Court.
The clothing was taken for forensic examination and ejaculate was found, See revealed on the first day of the trial.
Opening her case, the prosecutor said Tsang, 55, had molested the 27-year-old helper on two other occasions before going on to rape her – with all the attacks happening in the space of two weeks after the helper, referred to as X in court, started work at Tsang’s home on December 10, 2017.
Prosecutor Sabrina See laid out her case on the opening day of the trial at the High Court. Photo: Roy Issa
Share:
Tsang has denied two counts of rape and two other counts of indecent assault. But See said the unemployed man made his move as soon as X started working for the family.
The helper was told on her arrival she would be sharing a bed with Tsang’s 12-year-old daughter in her room, which was to be kept unlocked at all times, See said.
By registering for these newsletters you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
That night, the prosecutor said, Tsang barged in and ran his hands over X’s head and inner thigh. “Sleep soon. I love you,” he told her, according to See.
He did something similar eight days later, this time also touching X’s breast, See said.
On December 19, the following day, Tsang dragged her to his room and raped her, only stopping when he heard his wife come home, the prosecutor said.
Chilling assault on girl, 4, ‘for pleasure’ lands women 3 years in jail
Tsang then forced himself on her the next day when X was washing dishes in the kitchen.
“He pulled her hair and shoved her head down the sink [as he raped her],” See said.
He ejaculated on X’s hand after the helper refused to perform oral sex, the prosecutor said, and X put the semen on her underwear to preserve evidence of the assault.
See said X had initially not told anyone, but the last attack prompted her to come forward and contact her agent and the Indonesian consulate, which notified police.
She said Tsang remained silent after his arrest on December 22.
The case continues before Mr Justice Patrick Li Hon-leung on Monday.
.jpg)
