A South Korean man who travelled to Macau in an unsuccessful attempt to win back his ex-girlfriend has been arrested for allegedly detaining, assaulting, and raping her three times in a Cotai hotel room, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Un Hong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
The man also coerced the victim into telling her family over the phone that she was safe. However, her family sensed something was amiss and alerted the police, ultimately exposing the crime, according to Cheong.
The suspect is a 40-year-old surnamed Cho, who claims to be a businessman.
According to Cheong, the victim, a young non-local woman, arrived in Macau alone on Friday last week for a holiday and checked into a hotel in Cotai under her own name. Upon learning of her travel plans, her ex-boyfriend, Cho, travelled to Macau in an attempt to reconcile.
At 11 p.m. on Friday, Cho entered the victim’s hotel room under the pretext of “seeking a place to stay” and wanting to “discuss their relationship”. When his request to get back together was rejected, he lost control of his emotions. He grabbed the victim and violently slammed her head against the wall.
According to Cheong, Cho then forced himself on the victim, raping her twice. He confiscated her mobile phone and barred her from leaving the room.
At around 7 a.m. on Saturday, Cho assaulted the victim again and raped her for a third time, Cheong said.
Over the period, the victim managed to make several phone calls to her family, sending vague distress signals through means such as interrupted voice messages and unusual background noises.
Unable to reach the victim, her family called her repeatedly, causing the phone to ring continuously, Cheong said. Cho forced the victim to tell them she was safe, but her family sensed something was wrong and alerted the police.
Public Security Police (PSP) officers arrived at the scene at around 10 a.m. to assess the situation and subsequently transferred the case to the Judiciary Police (PJ) for follow-up investigation.
A forensic examination confirmed multiple soft tissue contusions and abrasions on the victim’s head, face, neck, and limbs.
The suspect was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing charges of rape, false imprisonment, and causing bodily harm.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Un Hong speaks during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Tony Wong
