The Judiciary Police (PJ) have taken a man into custody, and handed another one to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), in two separate cases of sexual assault on females under the age of 18.
The former case involves a 17-year-old female victim and an 18-year-old suspect. Information suggested that the two were schoolmates and had been in a relationship for several years.
The two split mid-December 2014, but the suspect is alleged to have coerced the victim into staying in the relationship, claiming to possess nude photos and videos of her and threatening to publish them. The man also refused to return his key to the victim’s apartment.
It is alleged that the man broke into the victim’s apartment with the key on the morning of January 5, and proceeded to rape her. PJ said that the victim tried to resist but failed. She also did not scream for help because she did not want her family to know, fearing for her reputation. The man carried out similar attacks at her house on January 24 and 27.
The victim could no longer bear the attacks, deciding to reveal the crime to her other schoolmates, who in turn notified the school. The school revealed the case to authorities on Sunday.
The latter case involves a 47-year-old suspect – a school doctor – and a 12-year-old victim under his care.
Information suggests that the victim was mildly injured at school in September last year and went to the school’s health center for treatment. It is alleged that, while the suspect was treating the victim, he secretly gave her MOP20 and asked her to return to the health center as frequently as possible. It is also alleged that he gave the victim some money from time to time when she went to the health center. He also asked the victim not to disclose their relationship to others. PJ claimed that the suspect only gave the victim money without requesting anything specific.
The victim was injured again in October and treated by the suspect. It is alleged that while the victim received MOP20 from the suspect as usual, while she was preparing to leave, he claimed to have offered to wipe away the sweat on her body since her hand was injured. Although the girl refused the request initially, the suspect was later able to put his hands under her shirt and touch her back and chest.
The alleged sexual molestation was discovered soon after the victim’s father discovered the extra cash in his daughter’s posession and forced her to disclose the origin of the money. They then decided to report the issue to the PJ at the end of October.
The police took the man into custody yesterday morning, before he left for work. The PJ spokesperson explained that it took them almost three months to take action because they needed time to investigate the case in detail. PJ said the suspect refused to answer questions and will be charged with sexually abusing a person who is under care by the authorities.
UM announces guidelines
The University of Macau (UM) stated yesterday that it will speed up the drafting of guidelines regarding the handling of sexual harassment cases. The statement also revealed that the university is planning to establish an Equal Opportunities Commission in the near future to handle relevant complaints and disputes.
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