Man, 23, sentenced to 240-hour community service for indecent assault on young cousin 10 years ago

A 23-year-old man convicted of sexually assaulting his 9-year-old female cousin in 2015 received 240 hours of community service from a Shatin court judge, citing the offender's youth at the time, delayed prosecution, stable employment, and positive reports.

The assaults occurred when the defendant was 13. In one incident at their grandfather's home, he locked the bathroom door, exposed himself, masturbated, forced the victim to touch his genitals until ejaculation, and touched her breasts and private parts over clothing.

In another, at the grandfather's Wan Chai office on a weekend, he locked the room, pulled down curtains, removed underwear from both, demanded oral sex—which she performed—and rubbed his genitals against her private parts.

The victim, viewing the acts as play due to her age, did not resist.

The family immigrated to Taiwan in 2016. In 2023, at age 17, she attempted suicide, revealing the abuse during follow-up.

The defendant, reported as a safety supervisor, denied three charges, including indecent acts toward a child under 16, but was convicted after trial.

Acting Judge Raymond Wong Kwok-fai noted special mitigating factors—an eight-year prosecution delay, a 10-year case duration, a four-year age gap, the defendant's remand of about two weeks, a current stable job at the grandfather's company, ongoing counseling, and short engineering courses.

Defense counsel emphasized remorse and personal growth. The sentence requires community service, possible psychological courses, and drug testing.