Swedish businessman accused of raping domestic worker tells Hong Kong court pair had an intimate relationship
Hong Kong Free Press
A Swedish businessman accused of raping his domestic worker has told a Hong Kong court that the pair had an intimate relationship ahead of the alleged rape.
Patrik Tobias Ekstrom appeared at the High Court on Tuesday as his trial, in which he faces charges of rape and non-consensual buggery, continued into its sixth day. The alleged incident took place in October 2022 and involved his then-domestic worker, known only as X. Earlier that day, his wife – who he had been arguing with – left for Japan with their three children.
The prosecution, which has finished presenting its case, has argued that Ekstrom returned to his Shek O home late on October 27, 2022, appearing to be drunk and later forcing X into his bedroom for sex. Ekstrom told police they did have sex, but that it was consensual.
Wearing a grey blazer, Ekstrom first answered questions from defence counsel Simon So. He confirmed with So that he was born in Sweden and moved to Shanghai, and then Hong Kong, both for university. Ekstrom also confirmed that he ran his own company Hong Kong Wholesale Limited, which trades consumer electronics.
See also: No visible injuries on domestic worker who accused ex-employer of rape, doctor tells Hong Kong court
The 35-year-old said X began working for his family in 2021. When asked if there was “anything more” than X being just Ekstrom’s domestic worker, he said they had an intimate relationship.
Ekstrom then presented a version of events that differed significantly from what X said when she testified last week. He recounted two incidents in July 2022 in which he said the pair had engaged in sexual acts. At the time, his wife and three children were in Japan.
The defendant said the first incident took place one morning when he was watching erotic films naked in his bedroom. X walked in and asked if he “needed any help.” Ekstrom said he was shocked because he was nude and it was an “embarrassing situation,” but that he said yes despite hesitation. He also told X not to tell his wife.
She helped him masturbate and they had oral sex, he told the court. While having oral sex, she asked for help with a loan she had. Ekstrom said that given the circumstance, he said yes. After sex, she asked him for HK$1,000, which he gave her, the court heard.
See also: Domestic worker accusing Swedish ex-employer of raping her is lying, defence says in Hong Kong court
Around a week or two later, X again approached Ekstrom in the bedroom one evening, the defendant testified. They had oral and anal sex, he said, and after that he gave her HK$3,000 upon her asking, the court heard.
The defendant’s testimony came after X denied that she had ever initiated sexual activity with Ekstrom, and said what happened that October night was entirely against her will.
On Tuesday, Ekstrom also denied that he was drunk that night, saying he had not consumed alcohol. Referring to allegations that his eyes were red when he came home, the defendant said it was because he was upset and had been crying over his wife leaving for Japan with their children.
HK$15,000 transfer
Following So’s questioning, prosecutor Dianne Crebbin began her cross-examination of Ekstrom. Among the topics brought up were a transfer of HK$15,000 that he made to X’s bank account after the incident.
Crebbin questioned whether Ekstrom was trying to “buy her off” and make sure that X would not tell anybody about what happened. Ekstrom replied that he was worried about his relationship with his wife and hoped X would not tell her about the incident.
Asked if the HK$15,000 was a bribe, Ekstrom denied it. “I’d say it’s a token or a gesture of goodwill,” he said.
Ekstrom also said he presumed that the amount represented a “sizable figure” for X, who he said had been asking since July 2022 “weekly, if not daily,” to help with a loan of around HK$45,000. Before that, he had already given her four months of salary in advance, the court heard.
During her testimony earlier, X agreed that her employers had advanced her salary but denied asking for help in settling the HK$45,000 loan. Instead, she said Ekstrom and his wife offered to, but that they never ended up following through.
‘Nice to get some comfort’
Regarding the alleged incident that October night, Ekstrom said in response to defence counsel So that he was in his bedroom when X knocked on his door and came in. He said he guessed she went to his room because he saw the “emotional state” he was in after his family left.
X comforted him and said his wife and children would come back. She hugged and kissed him, Ekstrom said, adding it was “nice to get some comfort.”
“I cannot say I didn’t welcome it,” he said. Ekstrom and X then proceeded to have oral, vaginal and anal sex, but he put a stop to it because he was “not in the mood to continue,” he told the court.
He then took a bath, during which he reflected on his marriage and decided his relationship with X had to stop because he wanted his wife and children back. He went to X’s room and told her that they could not be intimate anymore and that he would terminate her contract. X responded angrily and said “fuck you,” he said.
During the prosecution’s cross-examination, prosecutor Crebbin disputed his telling of the events. She said X had never offered sexual services to him and that, on the night of the incident, was angry that his wife left and sought to “buy” sex from X.
Crebbin suggested that, when she refused, he dragged her up to the bedroom. Ekstrom denied the prosecutor’s allegations, saying multiple times that he was devastated and wanted his family to return.
“I wouldn’t initiate anything with anybody in any way because I was not in the mood to do so,” Ekstrom said after telling Crebbin that it was X who initiated the sex that night.
Ekstrom finished his testimony on Tueday afternoon. The trial will resume on Wednesday with closing arguments from the prosecution and the defence.
Under Hong Kong law, rape and non-consensual buggery are punishable by up to life imprisonment.
| 💡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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