Sex offender freed because case delayed
A sex offender who indecently assaulted a schoolgirl was given an absolute discharge at the District Court yesterday because of the long delay in bringing his case to court.
Wu Chi-keung, 21, is already serving a training centre term imposed last September for three similar offences.
The attack on the 12-year-old was pursued separately and not brought before the court for sentencing until yesterday.
'The only sensible order I can make is an absolute discharge but it does not in any way reflect the gravity of the offence,' Judge Gerard Muttrie said.
He said the most sensible sentence would have been another training centre order but Wu had turned 21 and was too old.
'It seems to me that if I imposed another sentence, it would either be unfair to the defendant and pointless, or both,' Judge Muttrie said. 'To send him to prison would be unfair to him and would interfere with the rehabilitation the training centre has been providing.' Wu pleaded guilty to forcing the girl to commit a sex act in Mongkok on July 24 last year.
The judge suggested the delay had been caused by a lack of police liaison.
