四警涉威嚇15歲女童強迫性交卻以量刑較輕控罪拘捕 兒童權利委員會表示極度關注

上星期有傳媒獨家披露,4名警務人員涉嫌同一名15歲女童非法性交被捕,正停職接受調查。香港兒童權利委員會尋日(23日)表示極度關注,佢哋話警員行為完全不能接受,由其性剝削和強姦兒童對受害人嘅權利和福祉有著毀滅性及深遠的影響,「對此暴行應該採取零容忍的態度」,但係警員並無以涉嫌觸犯量刑標準較高嘅強姦罪拘捕。

根據上星期《香港01》報道,一名15歲中學女生舊年底用「Heymandi—匿名交友」先後識咗4名被捕警員,有短暫感情關係並喺酒店發生性行為,但近月佢同其中一名男警爭執其間,「有人以言語恐嚇女事主,強迫她性交,否則會對其不利。」女事主最終向社工傾訴揭發事件,並隨即報警求助。根據香港法例,強姦罪最高刑罰係終身監禁,但所有警員都只係以最多判五年嘅「16歲以下女童非法性交」被捕。

委員會喺聲明指,特別關注案件涉及唔只一名警員,而係四名來自兩個唔同警局嘅警員。警察係守護兒童免受剝削的前線,「警察剝削和虐待兒童,是直接損害兒童、公眾對警察的信任,削弱警察在保護兒童方面發揮關鍵作用的能力。」

#香港兒童 #兒童權利 #香港兒童權利委員會 #香港警察 #衰十一 #強姦罪 #香港法例 #heymandi #警察犯罪 #港語學

以下係中英聲明全文:


【四名警員涉嫌與15歲女童非法性交被捕|Four police officers arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 15-year-old girl】
我們就四名警員涉嫌與一名15歲女童非法性交,觸犯「與年齡在16歲以下的女童性交」而於2022年3月15日被捕表示極度關注,當中兩名警員另分別涉非禮及刑事恐嚇。
根據傳媒報導,該女童透過匿名交友社交應用程式認識四名警員,並與他們分別發生非法性行為。事件在女童聲稱受其中一人恐嚇強迫再度性交後向社工求助而遭揭發。令我們特別關注的是,案件涉及不只一名警員,而是四名來自兩個不同警局的警員。
本案所指稱的行為完全不能接受,並違反了基本法第39條及香港人權法案第20條。性剝削和強姦兒童對受害人的權利和福祉有著毀滅性及深遠的影響,因此被視為絕對法律責任的罪行。我們對此暴行應該採取零容忍的態度並時刻警剔。警隊及社會必須培養保護兒童的文化,避免同類事情再度發生。
我們十分關注警員不是以涉嫌觸犯量刑標準較高的強姦罪而被捕。女童年齡低於合法同意性行為的年齡,且明顯受到一班比其年長的男性操控及剝削。這些不合事宜的性罪行法例在過去五十年從未被檢討或更新。我們呼籲政府立即責成法律改革委員會全面檢討保護兒童法例,以確保保障兒童權利的原則和法規有應用其中。我們並呼籲政府盡快落實法律改革委員會就性罪行檢討的建議。
警察在我們的社會中有著獨一無二獲信任的地位,他們是守護兒童免受剝削的前線,是法律賦予特權能夠尋求照顧和保護令的兩個專業群體之一,對虐待兒童的投訴(如此案件)是由警察處理。因此,警察剝削和虐待兒童,是直接損害兒童、公眾對警察的信任,削弱警察在保護兒童方面發揮關鍵作用的能力。
此案件反映警隊需要就兒童權利和保護兒童工作上加強訓練,在招募過程加強審查。我們要求警務處處長在「性罪行定罪紀錄查核」以外,制定更全面及有效的面試和背景審查措施,以杜絕會傷害兒童的人士加入警隊。
疫情對兒童有嚴重影響,不少兒童被置於孤立地位受到剝削、虐待…種種危險之中。社會各界必須付出更大的努力來應對這種增加的風險。我們對警察在去年開展的保護兒童網路安全的運動表示歡迎,但要避免兒童在疫情下曝露於線上或現實生活中的各種危機需要更多工作配合。
香港兒童權利委員會
2022年3月23日
We are deeply concerned and shocked by the incident of four police officers arrested for alleged “Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 years’ of age”, one involved “Indecent assault”, and another with a count of “Criminal intimidation” towards a 15-year-old girl on 15 March 2022.
According to media reports, the girl was connected to these four officers through the social networking application “Heymandi” and developed unlawful sexual relationships with them. The matter only came to light when the girl was allegedly threatened by one of the police officers to have sex with her again and she sought help from a social worker. It is particularly concerning that this case concerns not one but four officers from two separate police stations.
The alleged behaviors at issue in this case are totally unacceptable and contrary to the rights of children to protection under Article 39 of the Basic Law and Article 20 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. Sexual exploitation and rape of children have devastating and permanent effects on the rights and welfare of victims, and for that reason they are regarded absolute liability offences. There must be zero tolerance and constant vigilance against such attacks. A culture of child protection must be cultivated in the police force and throughout our society to their prevent recurrence.
We are deeply concerned that the officers were not arrested for rape, which carries a much higher sentencing tariff. The girl involved was below the age of consent and had clearly been manipulated and exploited by a gang of much older men. These offences have not been substantially reviewed or updated in almost 50 years and are clearly outdated. We call upon the Government to urgently refer the matter to the Law Reform Commission to conduct a review of child protection law to ensure that appropriate principles and rules are in place to better protect the rights of children. We further call upon the Government to implement the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in relation to the review of sexual offences.
Police officers occupy an almost unparalleled position of trust in our society. They are on the front of safeguarding children against exploitation, privileged by the law as only one of two professional groups able to seek care and protection orders. Complaints of abuse of children (as in this case) are made to the Police Force. Exploitation and abuse of children by police officers thereby directly weakens the trust between children, the public, and the police, and undermines their ability to carry out their crucial role in child protection.
This case demonstrates the need for enhanced training on children’s rights and child protection, and stronger screening in police recruitment. We call upon the Commissioner of Police to go beyond the minimum of Sexual Conviction Record Check and to institute robust interview and background check measures to prevent admitting persons who would harm children from police recruitment.
The pandemic has had a serious impact on children, exposing many to exploitation and abuse by making them socially isolated. This heightened risk must be met with greater effort by all parties. We acknowledge the online child protection campaign launched by the police force last year but more work has to be done to prevent the increased risks of children being exposed to these online and offline risks under the pandemic.
Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights
23 March 2022