Former Hong Kong Sinfonietta flautist who molested his students blamed girls for dressing provocatively, says psychologist
Judge sentences Chan Kwok-chiu to 31 months’ jail, noting he breached trust placed in him as teacher
A former principal flautist at Hong Kong Sinfonietta told a psychologist that he molested four girls on the pretext of imparting breathing techniques during flute lessons because they dressed provocatively and did not behave as they were told.
The revelation came as District Court judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong sentenced Chan Kwok-chiu to 31 months in prison as he noted that the defendant breached the trust imparted to him as a teacher.
Chan, 56, pleaded guilty last month to seven counts of indecent assault and one of indecent conduct towards a child under the age of 16.
The court heard that he placed his hands on some of the girls’ bellies, saying he needed to coach them on how to breathe, before he slowly moved his hands up to their breasts.
On one occasion, he even grabbed a victim’s hand and put it inside his pants.
The offences took place between 2013 and 2015.
All four victims, aged between 12 and 14, were taking one-on-one lessons with the defendant.
One told a psychologist on impact assessment that she remained scared of Chan, fearing that he might take revenge on her, while feeling angry towards him at the same time.
Another, a 12-year-old, said her family had trusted Chan because he was a man of credibility.
According to a pre-sentencing psychologist’s report, Chan suffered from low self-esteem because he could not accept that he could no longer perform and had to rely on teaching classes to make ends meet.
The same report also revealed that he found his sex life with his wife ungratifying, so he sought excitement from molesting the girls while thinking he would not get caught.
The psychologist said Chan even blamed his victims for wearing provocative clothing and not following his instructions when he accounted for the offence.
It was further suggested by the psychologist that Chan was inclined towards paedophilia, with his risk of reoffending being low to moderate.