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Ph.D. candidate handed community service order for sexually assaulting fellow student
A University of Hong Kong Ph.D. candidate from the mainland was on Wednesday handed a 160-hour community service order for violently pulling the hands of another female student and groping her bottom in January.
Guan Weipeng, 28, was convicted of indecent assault and common assault two weeks ago on September 28.
The court earlier heard that on January 26, Guan first approached the woman “X” and spoke to her in Putonghua and then in Cantonese. Guan then invited X to the rooftop for a chat, but X rejected the offer and refused to give Guan her phone number.
Guan suddenly grabbed and pulled X's hands toward his chest. Guan only released X's hands after she resisted violently. Guan also followed X, who was taking the escalator to flee the scene, and X felt Guan's hands touch her bottom.
Today in Eastern Magistrates' Courts, deputy magistrate Gary Chu Man-hon criticized Guan for following X and even trying to drag X to an area not covered by the security camera.
Chu also slammed Guan for his ill intent and noted the incident involved sexual assault, which called for incarceration.
Chu referred to reports that Guan committed the crime out of impulse and selfishness, and he promised he would not commit the crime again. Given Guan showed remorse, and due to his outstanding academic grades and characteristics, Chu handed down a community service order.
Chu believed the order carried a deterrent effect. He also told Guan to start over and not to fail his parents.
In mitigation, the defense told the court that Guan obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in mainland China and was once awarded the National Scholarship. He had published over 60 theses and owned 23 patents.
The court earlier heard that on January 26, Guan first approached the woman “X” and spoke to her in Putonghua and then in Cantonese. Guan then invited X to the rooftop for a chat, but X rejected the offer and refused to give Guan her phone number.
Guan suddenly grabbed and pulled X's hands toward his chest. Guan only released X's hands after she resisted violently. Guan also followed X, who was taking the escalator to flee the scene, and X felt Guan's hands touch her bottom.
Today in Eastern Magistrates' Courts, deputy magistrate Gary Chu Man-hon criticized Guan for following X and even trying to drag X to an area not covered by the security camera.
Chu also slammed Guan for his ill intent and noted the incident involved sexual assault, which called for incarceration.
Chu referred to reports that Guan committed the crime out of impulse and selfishness, and he promised he would not commit the crime again. Given Guan showed remorse, and due to his outstanding academic grades and characteristics, Chu handed down a community service order.
Chu believed the order carried a deterrent effect. He also told Guan to start over and not to fail his parents.
In mitigation, the defense told the court that Guan obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in mainland China and was once awarded the National Scholarship. He had published over 60 theses and owned 23 patents.
