A former Hong Kong probationary police inspector has been jailed for 10 weeks for molesting two female officers after a court rejected his assertion that his work equipment could have accidentally brushed the victims.
Fanling Court on Wednesday convicted Tito Yeung Mang-hei of two counts of indecent assault for using his hand to swipe the buttocks of the two officers.
The court cleared the 38-year-old defendant of a third count of common assault, ruling that he might have genuinely wished to express gratitude to a third complainant when he massaged her shoulder.
Deputy Magistrate Linda Chan On-ting slammed Yeung for his “utterly disrespectful” conduct towards police officers of the opposite sex, as she declined to impose a non-jail sentence.
“The court must send out a clear message to society that women should be respected and protected at work,” she added.
The court extended Yeung’s bail at the defence’s request to allow him to lodge an appeal at the High Court, on condition that he surrender all travel documents within 24 hours and continue to observe his original bail terms.
The trial heard that Yeung, a father of one, had reverted to working as a paramedic at the Fire Services Department after he was suspended by the police force over the present case.
