Japanese idol Kenshin Kamimura fined HK$15,000 for molesting interpreter in Hong Kong
Former ONE N’ ONLY boy band member assaulted woman by stroking her thigh, as magistrate dismisses defence’s ‘cultural differences’ argument
Japanese pop idol Kenshin Kamimura has been convicted of indecent assault and fined HK$15,000 (US$1,910) for molesting an interpreter working with him during a fan event in Hong Kong earlier this year.
West Kowloon Court on Wednesday found that Kamimura, 26, assaulted the woman by patting and stroking her thigh at a Mong Kok restaurant on March 2.
Magistrate Peter Yu Chun-cheung dismissed the defence’s attempt to attribute the defendant’s actions to “cultural differences”, while highlighting that some members of the public had made unfair accusations about the woman’s integrity during the trial.
“Some people may feel the defendant’s acts were very trivial. There were even opinions accusing the victim of making a fuss about nothing. I don’t agree,” he said in handing down the sentence.
“The defendant’s acts were clearly disrespectful of women. They deserve condemnation because they violated Hong Kong law.”
The pop idol appeared to struggle to stay on his feet at the end of the two-hour hearing, embracing a court interpreter next to him before collapsing onto his seat and covering his face. Some female supporters inside the court also broke into tears upon hearing the ruling.