Principal gets 13 months in jail for molesting pupil 26 years ago

A former school principal was sentenced to 13 months in jail on Wednesday for repeatedly molesting a pupil he tutored 26 years ago.

Kwun Tong Court heard that the assaults by Walter Yau Woon-man had a traumatic impact that still affect the victim, who is now 36 and married.

Yau, 53, sexually molested the victim at her home during private tutorials on three occasions in 1986 and 1987. She was 10 when first molested. 

Yau earlier pleaded guilty in court to three counts of indecent assault.

In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Ernest Lin Kam-hung described Yau’s offences as “unforgivable”.

Lin said reports showed the victim continued to endure trauma as a result of the attacks: it affected her choice of career and the way she viewed relationships.

The molestation “could not be forgiven legally and morally”, and “greatly affected the victim’s growth”, he said. The jail term had to send a clear message that such crimes were not tolerated, Lin said.

The court heard that the victim had not told anyone about the attacks. But after learning that Yau had became headmaster at TWGHs Kwan Fong Kai Chi School, a special-needs school in Shek Kip Mei, she decided to speak out.

Voicing her concern that Yau would molest more girls, the victim sought help from a social worker earlier this year. The case was later reported to the police.Yau was arrested and resigned from the school.