Hong Kong police officer allegedly molested female colleague in public toilet, court hears
Hong Kong Free Press
A Hong Kong police superintendent allegedly molested a female colleague in a disabled toilet while they were out for dinner with others in June 2022, a court has heard. The alleged victim reportedly testified that she had not reported the incident because “no one would have believed what I said.”
Luk Chun-chung, 43, was the divisional commander of the border region of Sha Tau Kok at the time of the incident. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, common assault, and dangerous driving.
The District Court on Monday heard from the alleged victim, who delivered her testimony from behind a screen, according to local media reports. She said on the evening of June 22, 2022, she was invited by Luk to go to Luen Wo Hui Market and Cooked Food Centre in Fanling for dinner with three other male colleagues.
She said she was pressured into drinking six cups of beer and felt unwell. She told the court that Luk had followed her to the restroom and dragged her into the disabled toilet.
Luk locked the door, hugged and forcibly kissed her, the witness said, adding that he had touched her breasts and forced her to perform oral sex on him.
The witness said she felt “terrible,” that she did not like the experience, and she had not wanted to do it, adding that she had said no.
The court heard that the defendant took her to the toilet a total of three times to perform the assault. CCTV footage played in court showed the witness, who appeared wobbly, being supported by Luk to the toilet.
The witness said she had told their colleagues at the dinner that she did not want to go to the toilet ahead of the last assault. “They heard and pretended they didn’t hear anything. I didn’t want to go,” she said.
She said she told her then-boyfriend about the assault after the gathering, and also turned to another colleague for advice.
But she felt there was “no witness, no evidence, and no one would have believed what I said,” she said, adding that she was a junior officer and “no one would have helped me.”
The witness continued her testimony on Tuesday, saying that her then-boyfriend had wanted her to quit her job, but she insisted she had done nothing wrong. The incident eventually caused them to break up a month later, she added.
The witness tested positive for Covid days after the alleged assault, and Luk delivered anti-Covid supplies to her door, which she said she did not request but could not refuse.
After her recovery, Luk suggested giving her a lift to work, an offer the witness said she did not dare to refuse for fear of reprisals. Luk began driving her to work in the following days, she said.
Luk confessed his affection to her during one such journey, the witness said, to which she responded: “Sir, you are a married man.”
According to the witness, Luk responded: “You also have a boyfriend.” He added that “it was fate that has brought [the defendant and the witness] together.”
The woman said that two days later she requested Luk to “maintain a distance,” warning that she had had enough of his “harassment” and that her then-boyfriend knew her whereabouts through GPS.
But Luk sent her a Xiaomi phone the following week and asked her to use it for work, she said, adding that she saw it as an order from a superior.
Luk drove the witness to work again on July 14, during which he once touched her arm but retreated after receiving a harsh look, she said.
Luk was accused of dangerous driving and wounding the following day after attempting to drive after drinking and attacking his colleagues – including the witness – who tried to stop him, according to the prosecution.
“After he was caught, I was freed from his devil’s grip,” the witness said.
She added that she had not reported the incident to other superiors, fearing her prospects with the police would be impacted given Luk’s ranking. But she eventually told a female superior.
The trial continues on Wednesday.
| 💡If you are suffering from sexual or domestic violence, regardless of your age or gender, contact the police, Harmony House (click for details) and/or the Social Welfare Department on 28948896. Dial 999 in emergencies. |
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