A waiter was being held by police last night for allegedly sexually harassing a visiting South Korean woman when she was live-streaming in Central.
The well-known South Korean live-streamer, may5w, was able to live stream her ordeal and the video has gone viral.
The footage showed the woman was waiting for a tram at night on Pedder Street to bring her to her hotel in Sai Ying Pun when an Indian man hit on her.
Both had thought the tram had ceased operation, so the suspect suggested they could take the MTR together as he lives in Kennedy Town.
However, the man touched the woman while walking to Central MTR station and also hugged her from behind before pushing her toward a wall and forcefully kissing her on the cheek.
"Please don't hold my arm," the frightened woman said.
But the man kept getting close to her and said: "I am alone, come with me."
Although the woman said she was not alone and refused the man, he continued to touch her and pressed her against the wall.
The woman then screamed for help and the man fled.
The video has drawn police and public attention.
"Police received 10 online reports about the incident yesterday, and reported that a South Asian man committed indecent assault and other criminal behavior," said Inspector Kong Wai-ming of the Central criminal investigation unit.
After investigation, officers identified the suspect as an Indian waiter, and arrested him on Belcher's Street in Kennedy Town at 11am yesterday. He was arrested for indecent assault and performing acts outraging public decency.
Police also seized the clothes he was wearing when he allegedly committed the crime.
Kong said police have been trying to contact the victim for more details of the case.
"We call on the female victim to contact police for investigation," Kong said, adding that police hold zero tolerance of sex crimes.
She also called on citizens who witnessed the incident to contact the police at 3660-1282.
The MTR said it did not receive the female passenger's report or request for assistance, but it was aware of the video and informed police.
The rail company also called on passengers to inform staff at stations about any nuisance.
The South Korean live-streamer, who has more than 39,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and 13,600 followers on Instagram, has not made any response to the incident and arrest.
sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com
