Hong Kong Police Officer Acquitted of Indecent Assault Charge After Trial

A Hong Kong court on Friday acquitted a police officer of indecent assault charges after rejecting the testimony of the female informant who accused him.

Officer Ng Ka-wai, 41, had pleaded not guilty when he appeared at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts. The prosecution alleged that on December 20 last year, inside Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station, Ng inappropriately touched the woman’s thigh and opened a nude photo of her without her consent.

The informant, who was at the station to report being blackmailed with nude photos and defrauded of HK$1.6 million, claimed that Ng opened a nude photo sent via WhatsApp’s “View Once” feature without her permission. She also alleged that Ng asked her to stand with him to check online bank statements, during which he touched her thigh three times.

However, Magistrate Arthur Lam found inconsistencies between the informant’s court testimony and her earlier written statements. The court noted that the informant had told the magistrate that she only realised a suspected “View Once” photo had been opened after getting her phone back from Ng. Yet in her written statement, she claimed Ng had shown her the photos on her phone and commented on them.

Magistrate Lam described the informant’s explanations as unconvincing and ruled that Ng was not guilty of the charge. The officer was acquitted, and the court awarded him legal costs.

In Hong Kong, indecent assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The case highlights the challenges courts face in assessing credibility when testimony conflicts with prior written accounts. The prosecution’s case rested heavily on the informant’s statements, but the court found her explanations inconsistent, leading to the acquittal.

Ng’s defense successfully challenged the reliability of the accuser’s account, particularly regarding the timing and circumstances of the alleged photo viewing and physical contact. The ruling underscores the importance of corroborating evidence in such cases, as courts must carefully evaluate witness statements to ensure fairness.

This decision follows heightened scrutiny of police conduct in Hong Kong, where allegations of misconduct are closely monitored by the public and advocacy groups. While the court’s ruling does not imply wrongdoing by the informant, it demonstrates how discrepancies in testimony can influence judicial outcomes.

The acquittal does not address the original allegations of blackmail and fraud, which remain under separate investigation. The informant’s claims of being defrauded of HK$1.6 million are not part of this case and continue to be handled through appropriate legal channels.

Police departments in Hong Kong have faced increased oversight in recent years, particularly regarding interactions with the public. This case adds to ongoing discussions about accountability and transparency within law enforcement.

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