Patient tells court of sexual assault

A fitness centre consultant who claims he was sexually assaulted by a chiropractor testified in court yesterday on behalf of a man charged with blackmailing the practitioner.

Mark Houston said he telephoned Western Court in May after reading in the South China Morning Post that Mak Wai-man had been convicted of blackmailing the same chiropractor he says indecently assaulted him during treatment in 1992.

Mak, 34, denies the charge, insisting Dr Vincent Lam Kong-sang offered to pay him $20,000 after fondling his genitals during a therapy session on March 5.

Mr Houston said he contacted the court because he would have felt 'morally irresponsible' if he had not told of his experience.

Mak's lawyer applied for a re-trial on grounds of having a new defence witness.

Mr Houston recalled Dr Lam sneaking his hand into his underpants, grabbing his penis and asking him to cough. He said he had not paid a fee and had rushed from the clinic feeling nervous and embarrassed.