Alibaba working with police amid rape, sexual harassment allegations by female employee
- The female employee alleged that she was sexually molested by a client and then raped by her supervisor on July 27
- A special task force at Alibaba will work with the Jinan police force, in eastern Shandong province, in their official investigation
In an internal letter sent early on Sunday, Alibaba chairman and chief executive Daniel Zhang Yong said he was “shocked, angered, and ashamed” by this case and demanded a thorough investigation, pledging to cooperate with police. Zhang’s letter, which several Chinese media reports have cited, was confirmed by Alibaba employees.
The police force in Jinan, capital of eastern Shandong province, said they were “investigating and seeking evidence” about the incident, according to a statement on Sunday. The female Alibaba employee alleged that the sexual molestation and subsequent rape happened in the city on July 27. The police promised to publish any progress about its investigation in a timely manner.
The employee alleged that she fell unconscious after being forced to imbibe a drink during dinner, which led to an unidentified client molesting her in the restaurant.
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She alleged that her Taoxianda supervisor took her back to an unidentified hotel because she was in an intoxicated state. This supervisor, who apparently got a room card from the reception desk, entered the female employee’s room four times during that night, according to her online account.
