A man from Togo who raped his Filipina domestic worker after she refused to be his girlfriend has been jailed in Hong Kong for nine years and ordered to pay his victim more than $6,000.
The High Court was told that Kokou Afla Apelete, aged 37, showed no remorse even after he was convicted on one count of rape and other of indecent assault.
Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping said: “I am appalled at what has happened.”
She added that Apelete took full advantage of his helper’s vulnerability and victimised her both physically and financially.
“This was a very frightening experience for anyone, let alone for someone in the victim’s position who was working in Hong Kong, far away from her family, who entrusted her safety to her employer,” she said.
The helper, who cannot be named for legal reasons, revealed in her impact report that she was became depressed and easily frightened after the attack.
She also told the court she was forced to take an HIV test because Apelete had not worn a condom.
The victim also had to resign from her retail job in the Philippines in order to return to Hong Kong and give evidence.
The court was told that Apelete had approached his helper on several occasions indicating that he wanted to start a relationship, saying he would take care of her family. Although she refused, he persisted.
On August 25, 2015, Apelete went home at 1pm, knowing that his wife would be at work, and forcibly kissed his victim after finding her cleaning the toilet.
The helper pleaded and cried, but Apelete said he would let her go only if she hugged him, so she did as she was told.
But instead of stopping there, he took off his top and followed her into her room to rape her.
“The victim is a small lady, five foot tall, less than 100 pounds heavy,” the judge said. “She tried to keep her legs together, but he was too strong.”
Afterwards, Apelete attempted to buy the woman’s silence by offering to send money to her family.
A police report was made after the helper revealed the attack to a friend on Facebook.
Comments are closed.