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Jasmine Siu

A married African man who raped his Filipino domestic worker after she refused to be his girlfriend was on Wednesday jailed for nine years and ordered to compensate his victim HK$48,120 for her loss of income.
His arresting officer had testified that the helper ran out of the man’s Tuen Mun flat crying and obviously distressed when police arrived at the scene.
But the High Court heard that Kokou Afla Apelete, 37, showed no remorse even after he was convicted by a jury’s majority vote on one count of indecent assault and another of rape.
Hong Kong man accused of rape ‘threatened to throw maid out of window’, High Court trial told
Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping said: “I am appalled at what has happened.”
She noted that Apelete took full advantage of his helper’s vulnerability and victimised her both physically and financially.
“We all know that working outside the country really helps a family in the Philippines, but because of this traumatic event, she could not bring herself to come to Hong Kong to work,” Toh said.
“This was a very frightening experience for anyone, let alone for someone in the victim’s position who was working in Hong Kong, far away from her family, who entrusted her safety to her employer.”
The helper, who cannot be named for legal reasons, revealed in her impact report that she was depressed after the incident and became easily scared, such as when someone touched her from behind or when she encountered a male stranger.
She did not sleep well after losing her job and became worried about her income because she was her family’s financial pillar.
This was a very frightening experience for anyone, let alone for someone in the victim’s position who was working in Hong Kong, far away from her family, who entrusted her safety to her employer.
Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping
She also told the court that she had to receive an injection for HIV afterwards because she was worried about contracting a sexually transmitted disease as Apelete had not worn a condom at the time.
The victim had to resign from her saleswoman job in the Philippines to give evidence in Hong Kong. This was delayed for three days by Apelete’s admission to hospital just before the trial because he did not take full medication to control his blood pressure.
Apelete kept his head low and sobbed throughout the delivery of sentence, at one point prompting his interpreter to interrupt the judge.
“My lady, he needs a tissue,” he said.
The court heard that Apelete had approached his helper on several occasions indicating that he wanted to start a relationship with her and take care of her family. She refused, but he did not give up.
On August 25, 2015, Apelete went home at 1pm, knowing that his wife would be at work, and forcibly kissed the helper from her face to her breast after finding her cleaning the toilet.
The helper pleaded and cried, but Apelete said he would let her go only if she hugged him, so she did as she was told.
But instead of stopping there, he took off his top and followed her into her room to rape her.
“The victim is a small lady, five foot tall, less than 100 pounds heavy,” the judge continued. “She tried to keep her legs together, but he was too strong.”
In the aftermath, Apelete suggested sending money to her family and asked her not to show a crying face to his wife.
A police report was made after the helper went into the toilet to recount the incident to a friend on Facebook.


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The helper ran out of the flat crying and obviously distressed when police arrived at the scene. Photo: Fung Chang

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Hong Kong

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Kokou Afla Apelete, 37, also ordered to compensate victim HK$48,120 for loss of income


The Philippines

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court jails African man nine years for raping Filipino helper

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Kokou Afla Apelete, 37, also ordered to compensate victim HK$48,120 for loss of income

Kokou Afla Apelete, 37, also ordered to compensate victim HK$48,120 for loss of income