Hong Kong police have confirmed that a man was arrested in 2022 in connection with alleged sexual assaults in prison. The confirmation came days after the Correctional Services Department (CSD) slammed social media posts containing the allegations as “baseless.”
The Force confirmed with HKFP on Friday that a 19-year-old man was apprehended on February 16, 2022 on suspicion of committing indecency with children under 16 and non-consensual buggery. The arrest was made after the CSD referred a case to the police and requested their assistance on January 30, 2022. The Tseung Kwan O District Crime Unit followed up.
“After conducting further investigation and seeking legal advice, the police determined that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the arrested individual,” the Force said in an email reply to HKFP’s enquiries.
Alleged abuses at Pik Uk
The confirmation of the arrest came around a week after a number of political activists who have served time claimed there were sexual assaults and other abuses at Pik Uk Correctional Institution.
The online posts emerged after local media reported that a 18-year-old man was seriously injured at Pik Uk on December 26 last year. Four prisoners and a prison guard were later arrested and charged with wounding with intent. They were remanded into custody last Friday pending trial.
Among the activists who made allegations online was former activist Wong Yat-chin. The ex-convenor of the now-defunct Student Politicism group, who was jailed for three years in October 2022 under the national security law, claimed that a 15-year-old inmate was raped at Pik Uk Correctional Institution earlier that year. The minor was hospitalised and the CSD reported the case to the police, Wong said.
The maximum security facility in Sai Kung holds up to 385 young men on remand, as well as young male prisoners.
Wong made allegations about prison guards’ practice of nominating inmates, and turning a blind eye as they abused and humiliated prisoners, sometimes on the order of the guards.
“Young offenders are between 14 and 20 years old… they face immense pressure in prison. Some young offenders who are weaker or smaller in stature can easily become bullying targets,” Wong wrote, adding that he was aware of offenders being ordered to slap themselves and drink water out of a cup placed on the floor.
‘Baseless’
The CSD had denied the alleged sexual assaults and condemned the social media posts when it responded to local media enquiries on Monday. Without naming any individual, the department said someone had spread “baseless claims” on social media with the intention to “discredit” the work of the correctional department, news reports read.
In response to HKFP enquiries, the CSD said it placed great importance on discipline within correctional institutions. If any inmates were found to engage in unlawful activities, the matter would be handled seriously in accordance with established procedures, it said.
The department did not respond to questions on to the number of complaints it received between June 2019 to December 2023 relating to sexual assaults in the detention facilities and the whether any complaints were substantiated.
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