Tutorial school operator sexually assaulted brothers, court told

A 43-year-old male operator of a tutorial center sexually assaulted his pupils - two brothers aged 9 and 12 - for two years, the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts heard yesterday.

Police said there could be more victims. Sources said the center, which has been operating in Mei Foo Sun Chuen for six years, has about 70 students.

It is understood that the police will interview some 20 pupils, mostly aged 8 to 13, studying at the tutorial center to find out whether they had been sexually assaulted.

The operator, surnamed Yu who is married with a son, was charged with indecent assault, indecency with children under 16 and making child pornography.

No plea was taken at the court yesterday. The case was adjourned to November 15 and Yu was remanded in jail custody.

The case came to light when the brothers refused to go to the tutorial center Thursday last week and told their grandmother that they had allegedly been sexually assaulted multiple times by Yu since October 2021.

Family members of the brothers called the police. West Kowloon officers arrested Yu the following day, seizing his electronic devices including three mobile phones allegedly containing photos and videos of the brothers.

Police said it is still investigating the case and there could be other victims, adding it believes Yu committed the crimes alone.

Officers will contact other students at the tutorial center and their parents as soon as possible as investigation continues, the police said. It called on students who had been sexually assaulted at the center to contact the police.

The force stressed that it is committed to protecting children from violence, abuse and exploitation, and that officers will spare no efforts in combating crimes against children.

The center at Mei Foo Sun Chuen Phase 4 was closed yesterday. A notice said it would cease operation.

"We are sorry that the center has decided to cease operation and all classes are canceled from today," it said in the notice.

The center said parents - who have paid tuition fees but their children have not yet completed the classes - will receive a refund starting today. The Education Bureau said the tutorial center was not a registered school under the Education Ordinance.

The bureau declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing legal proceeding.

A local resident, surnamed Mok, said families should look after their children carefully and pay attention to their behaviors that may appear abnormal.

Mok added there are many tutorial schools in the area and she was not familiar with the one involved in the case. Mok said she had not heard about sexual assault incidents involving children at the center.

Another resident working in the tourism sector, Chan, said he was shocked by the incident and found it hard to believe that such an assault occurred.

Not referring to the case in particular, Chan said tutors being too strict with children may lead to criticisms of abuse whereas those excessively enthusiastic towards children may be accused of suspected indecent assault