A Belgian businessman appeared before a Hong Kong court of first instance on Tuesday, according to Chinese media on Thursday. The 30-year-old is suspected of sexual assault and 2 counts of rape which allegedly took place between May and October 2013. The suspect denies the charges and pleads not guilty. Laurent F. is accused of raping two young Hong Kong women and of sexually assaulting a third, all of which he allegedly met through social media websites.
One of them, W., 27 years old, testified on Wednesday. She said she met Laurent F. through a social media website at the end of 2012. He explained he was Canadian and lived in Montreal before suggesting they meet up in Hong Kong. He also allegedly asked her if she planned to bring some condoms with her. W. claims she made it quite clear to Laurent F. that she would "be doing no such thing." The businessman made no further allusions of the kind and W. presumed he had got the message. She then accepted to meet him in Hong Kong on May 1st, 2013.
When they met, the Belgian allegedly said, during dinner: "my genes and wisdom combined with your looks and personality will give a great result." W. declared herself to have been shocked and embarrassed by this as it showed he was expecting them to have sex. "I didn't want to have sex with a man I'd only just met", she said.
According to prosecutor John Marray, the businessman then pretended to feel ill. W. helped him back to his hotel where Laurent F. allegedly kissed and then raped her.
The second alleged victim was 29 and also apparently met Laurent F. through social media websites. He allegedly suggested they meet up in Hong Kong on August 8th, 2013. The court said the Belgian allegedly hit her onto the bed in his hotel room where he then kissed her before she managed to push him off and escape.
The third alleged victim is a 21-year-old student who allegedly met Laurent F. on October 24th, 2013. Laurent F. allegedly invited her to his hotel room, where he kissed her. The young woman then told him she was a virgin and wasn't looking for sex. The businessman allegedly forced her to have sex with him. She managed to get away and confided in a friend who advised her to go to hospital. She also filed a complaint.
Laurent F. denies the charges and claims the sexual activity was consensual in all three cases.
(Source: Belga)
