Three Hong Kong policemen have been charged with sexual offences involving a 15-year-old girl, with two of them also accused of creating child pornography. The trio, who have already been suspended by the force, face a total of 10 charges and were granted bail pending trial.
Yao Yanwu, 27, Lai Tsz-leung, 26 and Ng Sing-yap, 26, appeared at Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday, almost five months after they were arrested in March on suspicion of having sex with a girl aged 15.
According to the police charge sheet, Yao is accused of inciting a girl identified as “X” to commit an act of gross indecency with or towards him on September 30 last year. He was also said to have committed acts of gross indecency with or towards “X” by having oral sex with her twice in a hotel in Tsuen Wan on two days between January last year and this February.
The officer allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with the teenager at the same hotel during the same time period.
Lai is said to have attempted to have unlawful sexual intercourse with “X” in a hotel in Sha Tin on December 1 last year, as well as making child pornography by taking a photo and recording a video on his phone.
Ng is accused of committing an act of gross indecency with or towards “X” on November 24, 2021, and January 17 this year, respectively. The officer is also charged with having unlawful sexual intercourse with “X” on Christmas Day last year, and making child pornography on the same day with four photos shot on his phone.
The three were released on bail of HK$8,000. They were ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to contact prosecution witnesses.
The case was adjourned to October 7 for prosecutors to prepare documents needed to transfer the case to the District Court.
In Hong Kong, anyone convicted of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 could face up to five years in jail, while making child pornography is punishable by a fine of HK$2 million and imprisonment of eight years. Committing an act of gross indecency with or towards a child under 16 could warrant a maximum 10 years behind bars.
In the District Court, the maximum jail time would be capped at seven years.
The case originally involved another 27-year-old police officer, who was also suspended in March. But police said on Wednesday that he had been released unconditionally following an investigation and legal advice. He would remain suspended and would face an internal disciplinary review.
“Police stress that the police force attaches great importance to the conduct of its officers. The police force will not tolerate or condone any illegal acts committed by any personnel, and will definitely handle them seriously,” police said in a statement on Wednesday.
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