A dentist was acquitted of two indecent-assault charges but convicted of one count of common assault and fined HK$6,000 at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts. The charges concerned alleged conduct involving two clinic assistants in 2023.
The charges were dated 23 September and 16 October 2023, involving complainants identified in court as X and Y. In the case involving X, the prosecution alleged that the dentist put his arms around her while demonstrating equipment, held her gloved hand, sat beside her on a sofa, touched her shoulder and rested his head against it.
The court considered X a sincere and clear witness. It found the dentist’s conduct deliberate and over the line, saying he could have demonstrated the work verbally. But the court said the conduct was not clearly indecent and did not involve touching X’s skin, so it acquitted him of the indecent-assault charge involving her while convicting him of common assault.
The separate charge involving Y was dismissed after the court found her evidence inconsistent and unclear and said it could not safely rely on it. The defence had suggested that the two complainants were put in contact by a former nurse and had joined together to make a false accusation. The court said there was no basis for that claim.
In mitigation, the defence said the dentist had worked hard to qualify and might later face disciplinary proceedings. The court said it believed he would reflect deeply before imposing the HK$6,000 fine.