A primary school teacher – who slipped his hand down a seven-year-old student’s skirt to touch her genitalia – was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment yesterday by Fanling Court.
Wong Shing-yam, 26, who had previously denied two counts of indecent assault, intimated that he would appeal against his conviction and sentence. The court rejected his request to be released on bail in the meantime, SCMP reports.
Last month, Wong was acquitted on one of the counts after the student failed to confirm in detail the allegation that he touched her back with his genitals.
The incident took place at some point between Feb. 1 and May 18 last year during a remedial class in a Tuen Mun primary school.
The school girl testified on video that, as she was completing her worksheet, she felt Wong’s presence behind her. He then allegedly slid his hand through the waist of her skirt and touched her private parts.
She said that she did not see the act, and that she was unsure how long it lasted.
Wong was arrested on May 19, after the girl told her father.
Defence counsel Olivia Tsang drew the court’s attention to the fact that Wong has a clean criminal record, and that this was an isolated incident.
Tsang also noted Wong’s lack of unhealthy habits, including gambling, drinking or sexual misbehaviour.
Magistrate Li Chi-ho said that the behaviour was a breach of trust, involving serious indecency and a young victim of just seven years of age.
Wong no longer teaches at the school. He now volunteers at a church.
