Hong Kong taxi driver arrested over photo of breastfeeding passenger
Suspect nabbed for accessing computers with criminal or dishonest intent but was not charged
Police officers arrested a taxi driver, who posted a picture online of a breastfeeding passenger, on Thursday afternoon, following a public outcry over his disrespectful act and the intrusion of privacy.
They intercepted the 48-year-old man at the junction of Tai Po Road and Pei Ho Street, near his home in Sham Shui Po on Thursday.
He was arrested for accessing computers with criminal or dishonest intent, and was detained at the Sham Shui Po Police Station for inquiries last night. No charge has been laid against him.
A police source said the suspect had admitted to his guilt under police caution, adding that the taxi driver had been targeted for days before he was arrested by officers from the Police Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau in an ambush.
The man’s location was found through records of his recent internet use, the source said.
He was later escorted to his home for a search. At least four mobile phones were seized, along with clothes that looked like those in the online picture, which had included part of the driver’s face and attire.
Investigators have yet to examine the phones for evidence.
He allegedly posted the photo, showing a woman in the back seat breastfeeding a baby, with her face and parts of her breasts visible, on a Facebook group for taxi drivers on Saturday with the caption: “Seriously, is this for real?”
The picture was later removed by the uploader.
The photo, which was apparently taken by a device in the dashboard area, drew criticism from breastfeeding advocates, political parties and government officials.
Health minster Dr Ko Wing-man on Sunday urged people to show respect for breastfeeding mothers, and slammed the act for its intrusion on privacy.
