Chinese developer sentenced to prison in Australia for sexual assault

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 15): A Chinese property developer was sentenced to at least two-and-a-half years jail time by an Australian court on Friday (Oct 12) for non-consensual intercourse with a woman after a dinner party in Sydney hosted by tycoon JD.com-founder Richard Liu, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

According to the report, Xu Longwei, 29, pleaded not guilty, but was convicted in July of forcing himself on the woman “in an hour-long ordeal” at a hotel room overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Xu was sentenced to four years’ jail, “of which he must serve at least two and a half” said the report.

District Court Judge Nicole Noman said the woman was not feeling well when she left the dinner party and she gave evidence that she threw up on the way to the hotel room where Xu forcibly removed her clothes and held her down.

“She said at one stage Mr Xu said to her that she could not refuse him,” the SCMP reported Judge Noman saying. “Mr Xu took advantage of the victim’s alcohol-rendered vulnerability.

“Mr Xu persisted over objection and resistance. He exploited the situation. His comment about her not being able to resist him … reflects his arrogance and his low regard for the victim,” said Judge Noman.

In a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, the court heard evidence that Xu “invited the young woman to the party, encouraged her to drink, and offered to take her home after she was unable to properly sit or stand”.

The woman said during the eight-day trial that Xu had thrown away her phone, forcibly stripped her clothes and “digitally raped her” while she struggled beneath him, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

"When he attempted to rape me, Tommy (Xu) said that he would buy a boat for me, but I refused," she said during the trial.

Judge Noman also said that Xu was optimistic that his charm and “apparent” connection to wealth would convince the woman to yield to him.

"The offences were committed through force, fear and perseverance," Judge Noman said, reported the Australian daily.

The court also heard that the victim continues to suffer from flashbacks from the attack.

Meanwhile, a Reuters report said that Judge Noman “made clear that Mr Liu, who founded the Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com in 2004, had no role in the offences”.