Cook gets three months for molesting live streamer

Wallis Wang

A 46-year-old Indian cook was imprisoned for three months for sexually harassing a South Korean live streamer in Central two months ago and was slammed by a magistrate for damaging Hong Kong's reputation.

The cook, identified only as Amit, yesterday pleaded guilty to indecent assault before principal magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei in a Eastern court over an encounter that saw him touch the woman and push her against a wall at Central MTR station on September 11.

In sentencing, Chui said the crime has damaged the SAR's reputation and Amit has to be sent to prison as the court has to protect tourists as well as tourists.

She said the case is of a serious nature as the woman was walking alone at night and told Amit many times not to touch her. However, Amit ignored her warnings and sexually harassed her, making her extremely frightened.

Chui also dismissed his claim of having committed the crime under the influence of alcohol, saying he fled after the woman screamed for help, which shows he was not drunk at the time.

The court heard the woman was doing live streaming in Central on the night of September 10 and looking for transport methods to return to her Sai Ying Pun hotel, when Amit hit on her. He suggested they could take a taxi together but was rejected by the woman.

When the two were walking toward Central MTR station, Amit suddenly grabbed her by the shoulder and hand. He also pushed her against a wall at the station and touched her abdomen, saying: "Come with me I am alone."

Amit fled following her screams and was arrested on September 13.

He told police he did not remember what had happened as he was drunk but admitted he was the person filmed in her live-streaming footage.

The defense said Amit is a permanent resident whose wife and three children lives in India.

He was fired immediately after the case came to light.

As his 16-year-old son is paralyzed and is not in a stable health condition, Amit could not arrange for his family to come to Hong Kong, causing him to feel pressure and become addicted to alcohol, the defense said.

The defense added that Amit feels ashamed after the video of him harassing the woman circulated online and promised to quit drinking, appealing to the court for a lenient sentence.