Hong Kong constable convicted of sex attack on mainland doctor in toilet at police HQ
Young officer who molested mainland woman in toilet on pretext of conducting body search brought force into disrepute, says magistrate
A magistrate yesterday condemned a police constable for bringing the force into disrepute before convicting him of indecently assaulting a mainland doctor inside a women's bathroom at police headquarters in Wan Chai earlier this year.
Eastern Court Magistrate Lee Siu-ho said Kong Ho-wan knowingly targeted the woman when he led her into the bathroom on January 13. He molested her there on the pretext of conducting a body search.
"He abused the benefits placed on him by the public," Lee said, as he found Kong guilty of one count of indecent assault and another of misconduct in public office. Kong, 26, had denied both charges.
Lee said the policeman from the Criminal Investigation Division had violated the privacy and dignity of women and had breached his general duty, given the crime was committed in the place he worked.
Kong had brought his office into disrepute and "caused the public to lose confidence in police for law enforcement".
The court previously heard that Kong slipped his hand into the bra of X, whose identity was not revealed for legal reasons, after taking her to the toilet. He also touched X's breast and demanded that she lower her underwear so he could look at her private parts.
The prosecution said Kong had stopped X to give her a body search as she left the police station after being arrested for theft the day before.
Kong, however, claimed X asked him for directions to the toilet and then seduced him there. He said he succumbed to her advances but only touched her breast through a sweater.
Lee said he found it "inherently improbable" that a married doctor would want to seduce a police officer she did not know, particularly after just being released from police custody.
Rebutting the claims of Kong's barrister, Cheng Huan SC, Lee said X's theft case had been dealt with separately from Kong's. Cheng suggested earlier that X had been asked to cooperate with police to testify against his client.
The magistrate also said that cultural differences would explain what Cheng raised as flaws in X's evidence that would undermine her credibility.
In mitigation, Cheng suggested that Kong was a simple and introverted man, and perhaps had been leading a "lonely life without a steady girlfriend".
He cited letters from the police force, which praised Kong for being a "young officer with a bright future".
Noting that Kong once had a promising career, Lee lowered his voice and said: "It's a pity."
He remanded Kong into custody and adjourned sentencing to November 20 after rejecting the possibility of community service.
