A 24-year-old man was acquitted of seven charges after a Hong Kong High Court judge ruled that prosecutors had not shown he understood that his alleged sexual conduct with his sister was wrong or seriously wrong at the time. The prosecution said it would not appeal.
The man denied four incest charges and three charges of committing indecent acts with a child under 16. The alleged conduct was said to have taken place at the family home between 2013 and 2016, when he was under 14, and included sexual intercourse, oral sex and masturbation.
Judge Li Su-lan found that evidence from two teachers and statements in the defendant’s recorded interview did not establish the required state of mind. Ming Pao reported that she described the handling of the case as unusual and said it was the first High Court case she had encountered in which the evidence was inadequate to such an extent.
The judge directed the jury to return not-guilty verdicts on all seven charges, and the defendant was released in court. The ruling followed a five-day trial in which the prosecution relied on the recorded interview and called two teachers to give evidence.
The reports also said the complainant’s father had earlier pleaded guilty to conduct intended to obstruct the course of justice over events in Hong Kong on 6 May 2020. This included allegedly asking his daughter not to report to police what she claimed was sexual abuse. His sentencing was scheduled for the following day, according to the reports.
The prosecution said no appeal was planned. The father’s sentencing was the next stated step, but the reports did not provide its outcome or the full details of the evidence considered in his case.