Therapist arrested after alleged sexual misconduct toward patient, trainees

A psychotherapist suspected of sexually assaulting and harassing at least one female patient and four female trainee therapists under the guise of therapy and teaching since 2021 was arrested Thursday.

Police disclosed details Friday of allegations against a psychotherapist arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexual assault and harassment.

At a police press briefing Friday, the Judiciary Police (PJ) identified the arrested man as a Macau resident who has worked as a psychotherapist at a local medical institution for at least a decade.

Police said the case dates back to late February 2021, when the suspect allegedly used the guise of a stress-relief massage to put his hand inside the clothing of a female patient receiving treatment for emotional problems, touching her chest, waist, and abdomen over her undergarments. The force added that last year the suspect repeatedly touched the waists, thighs, and arms of four female trainee therapists while they were completing internships, purportedly to assist with casework.

Authorities said the five victims delayed reporting for different reasons: the patient feared retaliation after personal information was disclosed, while the four trainee therapists worried the allegations would harm their internship evaluations. Some came forward years later because they remained unable to move on; others filed reports after learning of the others’ experiences in recent conversations.

Police apprehended the suspect Thursday afternoon at the medical facility where he worked. The case has been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation. The facility remains open and operating as usual, police added.