Attempted rape charge in Hong Kong against China Evergrande ex-senior executive dropped because victim too ‘disturbed and heartbroken’
- Merchant Chen Fen, 37, was accused of trying to assault the woman in a flat on March 2 last year
- The alleged rape came after Chen attended a hotpot dinner with at least three top officials at a Wan Chai luxury clubhouse
Hong Kong prosecutors have dropped a charge of attempted rape against a former senior executive of real estate giant China Evergrande, saying the alleged victim was so “disturbed and heartbroken” she could not give evidence.
The case is linked to a controversial hotpot dinner attended by three senior Hong Kong officials, with guests later fined for breaking Covid-19 social-distancing rules.
Merchant Chen Fen, 37, was accused of trying to assault the woman in a flat on March 2 last year. His 10-day trial was initially slated to commence on December 2 before a High Court jury.
But prosecutors told Madam Justice Judianna Barnes on Friday the complainant’s mental state “was not going anywhere” after the charge was laid in the lower Eastern Court last year. On that basis, they decided to offer no evidence against the businessman, the court heard.
“[The complainant] was seriously disturbed and heartbroken, and refused to talk about the painful experience that she had. She is unable to testify in the present case,” Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jonathan Man Tak-ho said.
To safeguard the interests of the woman and the public, prosecutors also applied for an order barring the coverage of any information that could lead to the complainant’s identification, including her name, occupation, residential address and location where the alleged offence took place.
Barnes granted that request, but noted the press was still entitled to report on the reasons for withdrawing the allegation.
