A Filipino non-resident worker touched the shoulder of a female passenger who was asleep on the seat on a public bus with his genitals last week, the Public Security Police (PSP) have announced.
After his arrest, the suspect surnamed Bartolome, who is in his twenties, told the police that he works as a deliveryman.
Although CCTV footage on the bus showed what he did, the suspect denied the crime.
A PSP spokesperson told a regular press conference on Friday that when the bus was nearing Pui Ching Middle School in Rua do Almirante Costa Cabral at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday last week, the Filipino, who was standing, moved close to the woman in her twenties who was sleeping on the seat, exposed his private parts, and touched her shoulder with his genitals.
According to the spokesperson, a male passenger and a female passenger witnessed what the Filipino did. They told the bus driver to report the case to the police. The bus driver let other passengers get off the bus, during which the Filipino attempted to escape, but was stopped by the man who had witnessed the incident, the spokesperson said.
Under questioning, the Filipino denied having touched the woman’s shoulder with his genitals. He claimed that he was standing during the bus journey as all seats were occupied, according to the spokesperson.
However, the two witnesses told the police that not all seats were occupied but the suspect chose to stand. They also said that he used his bag as a cover and sexually harassed the sleeping woman, according to the spokesperson.
After scrutinising the bus CCTV footage, PSP officers confirmed what the two passengers had told them. Bartolome has been transferred to the Public Prosecution Office (MP) for further questioning, facing sexual harassment and exhibitionism charges.
According to Article 164-A and Article 165 of the Macau Penal Code, both charges carry a prison term of up to one year.
