A young cook was ordered to perform community service and undergo psychosocial treatment yesterday after he admitted molesting a man on the MTR on four occasions within eight days last year.
Eastern Court heard earlier that So Yiu-wah, 20, had preyed on his victim, 26, and grabbed his groin as he boarded and got off the train during the morning rush hour four times from May 11 and May 18 between Quarry Bay and Wan Chai.
Magistrate Symon Wong Yu-wing said the offence was serious and showed intent, but he acknowledged that the defendant had shown remorse. 'This case is very serious as the offences were clearly committed with a high degree of premeditation,' the judge said.
He accepted that the cook had shown genuine remorse and was motivated to change his behaviour through regular psychological treatment, which the magistrate made mandatory along with a community service order.
The cook had earlier admitted four counts of indecent assault. In mitigation, the court was told So committed the offences because he had a psychological problem. The victim, who lives in Quarry Bay, travels on the MTR to work in Wan Chai every morning at 9am. Last May, as he left the train in Wan Chai, So molested him as he was boarding. But the victim was too embarrassed to report the assaults.
After four assaults that month, So tried to molest him again on October 27, but the designer warded him off and reported the incident to officers patrolling the station.