A police sergeant is subject to an internal investigation after he allegedly photographed the cleavage of a woman in a police station and distributed the pictures among his colleagues.
The two photos in question show a young woman in a black tank top filing a police report at Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station. Netizens pointed out that both pictures were taken from behind a police counter, and one photo clearly shows a police officer sitting with his back to the camera, facing the woman. The pictures are believed to have been initially posted to a WhatsApp group for the station’s police officers before leaking online.
The officer being probed has been removed from his post at the station report room and will receive further disciplinary action, Oriental Daily reports.
Apple Daily reports that the sergeant, as well as all other officers who were on duty at the time, were required to give statements about the incident yesterday. Meanwhile, higher-ranking officers have been ordered to go through the station’s surveillance footage.
All Hong Kong police stations clearly display signs barring the taking photos.
A police spokesperson confirmed the ongoing investigation and emphasized that the force attached great importance to the conduct of its personnel. Officers who are found guilty of violating the Police General Orders cannot be promoted within the next five years.
Barrister Albert Luk told Oriental Daily that the investigating team would probably look into whether the “No Photo” warning at police stations is limited to the public only.
It was reported that the woman in the photos was a tourist from mainland China and had gone to police for help over “issues with a credit card transaction”. She was referred to a bank by officers on duty.
