University of Hong Kong student remanded, awaits sentencing for molesting schoolmate

Poon, 21, was a Year Three student of HKU’s global creative industries programme when he attacked the complainant, then a Year Four pupil, at Lee Shau Kee Hall on New Year’s Eve of 2021.

The trial heard Poon, who had just entered the varsity after receiving an associate degree, met the complainant during an orientation event that summer where she was a group leader responsible for organising and coordinating activities.

He and a few other residents of the hall went to the complainant’s room in the early hours of December 31 for a drinking party to bid her farewell.

The complainant said that after the party was over, Poon rubbed his genitals against her buttocks while she was packing her belongings at around 8am.

The accused then sat close to her and surrounded her with his arm, touching her waist, she added.

The court heard Poon later left but returned to her room, exposing his genitals as he asked her to help “relieve” him.

The complainant did not report the case to police until late April of 2022.

She said she felt “very uncomfortable” seeing Poon again during a reunion dinner among participants of the orientation event.

Poon, in his court testimony, maintained he had reasons to believe the complainant saw him as being special even though she was already dating someone else.

The defendant also highlighted what he claimed was a “flirtatious” text exchange with the complainant on December 31, saying the latter sent him a heart emoji in a message that appeared to suggest she wanted to meet him alone.

Deputy Magistrate Kevin Tang Tsz-kai on Tuesday dismissed those contentions as self-serving and said Poon had no reason to believe she liked him just because they had a few meals together and had asked for favours from each other in the past.

“No matter [whether] it is from the evidence of [the complainant] or those given by the defendant, the court cannot envisage or find any sign that [she] might have given him the view to form such a mistaken belief,” Tang said.

The court also rejected Poon’s claim that his sexual advances were the result of his intoxication.

Tang accepted the defence’s request to order an assessment of Poon’s suitability for probation or community service. But he maintained that immediate imprisonment remained a likely sentencing option.

Poon will be sentenced on September 3.

Indecent assault is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, but capped at three years at the magistrates’ court.