The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a local male psychotherapist on Thursday for the sexual assault and harassment of five women, PJ spokesman Ho Wai Lok said during a special press conference on Friday.
Ho identified the suspect as a 47-year-old man surnamed Che, adding that the five victims are a patient and four intern psychotherapists.
According to Ho, in late February 2021, the female patient was undergoing treatment for emotional issues at a medical institution where Che worked. During her treatment, Che, under the pretext of providing massage to relieve stress, reached inside her clothing and touched her chest, waist, and abdomen over her undergarments, Ho said.
The victim did not resist due to Che’s professional status and refrained from immediately reporting the incident out of fear of retaliation, as Che had access to her personal information, Ho said, adding that after years of being unable to come to terms with the experience, the victim recently reported the matter to the police.
During their internship last year, Ho said that four female trainee psychotherapists were repeatedly touched by Che on their waists, thighs, and arms, under the pretext of assisting them in treating patients.
Out of fear that they would receive unsatisfactory internship evaluations, none of them reported the incidents at the time, Ho said, adding that it was only recently, after learning about each other’s experiences through mutual the incidents, that they decided to report the incidents to the police.
Following the reports, Ho said that PJ officers identified Che as the suspect and arrested him at the medical institution.
Regarding reporters’ questions whether the medical institution where Che works or worked is a public or private institution, as well as about its location and the length of Che’s employment, the Judiciary Police only responded that the facility in question remains in normal operation.
Che was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) on Friday, facing charges of sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, the Macau Society of Registered Psychotherapists (MSRP) issued a statement in which it expressed concern about the incident, emphasising that practitioners must adhere to the “principle of beneficence and non-maleficence”, strictly maintain professional boundaries, and safeguard the trust between practitioners and patients.
The MSRP urged experienced professionals to lead by example and provide a safe supervisory environment for trainees. The statement said it also encouraged trainees who experienced inappropriate treatment to actively seek help.
It pointed out that citizens have the right to stop treatment at any time and report their concerns to the relevant authorities if they feel uncomfortable during therapy.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the sexual assault and sexual harassment suspect surnamed Che to a PJ van outside the PJ headquarters in Zape on Friday – Photo: Maria Cheang Ut Meng
