A local man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly sexually abusing his daughter in their home, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Yeung Sau Chan said during a special conference at the PJ headquarters yesterday.
According to Yeung, the suspect is a 47-year-old local surnamed Cheong, who has been unemployed for years. After divorcing his wife two years ago, Cheong lived with his three daughters in a two-bedroom flat provided by the government in the northern district, where the three daughters share a bedroom and Cheong has the other. Receiving subsidies from the government, the suspect was a full-time homemaker.
The alleged victim is Cheong’s eldest daughter aged 20, who is a university student.
Yeung said that in July, after showering, Cheong came out of the bathroom into the living room naked when the daughter was sitting there. Shocked as well as frightened, she quickly retreated to her bedroom. At that time her father didn’t follow her into the bedroom.
In the small hours of the morning of November 13, when the 20-yearold was awake in her bedroom, she received a video message from her father, which he had recorded of himself naked, according to Yeung.
Terrified, she pretended to be asleep when her father later entered the daughters’ bedroom. He then held his daughter’s hands with one hand while he touched her breast with the other. The victim started struggling and pushed her father away, and screamed at him. He then left the room.
On the same day, after taking her two younger sisters to school, she went to the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) for help. The bureau immediately arranged a place for her and her two siblings to stay.
On November 16, the victim went to the police station to report the case, accompanied by a social worker, according to Yeung.
On Tuesday morning, police officers went to the suspect’s home and arrested him. He was taken to a police station for questioning.
According to Yeung, Cheong refused to explain why he committed the crime.
Yeung noted that since the suspect is the victim’s father, he faces an aggravated charge of sexual coercion, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and 8 months.
He was transferred to the Public Prosecution Office (MP) later that day.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the sexual coercion suspect to a police vehicle outside the Judiciary PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. Photo: Iong Tat Choi
