Home Crime Pastor Sentenced to 6.5 Years for Assaulting Students at Children’s Home

Pastor Sentenced to 6.5 Years for Assaulting Students at Children’s Home

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Hong Kong — In a harrowing case that has drawn widespread condemnation, Jackson Choi Kin-hang, a 51-year-old pastor and English tutor, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting six male students while they were drugged and asleep. The sentencing took place yesterday at the High Court, where Judge Amanda Jane Woodcock criticized Choi for preying on vulnerable children from broken homes.

Choi, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including 16 counts of indecent assault and seven counts of administering drugs to facilitate unlawful sexual acts, exploited his position of trust to target boys aged 13 to 16. The victims, now between 18 and 24, met Choi through English tuition classes and church activities at the children’s home where he worked.

During the court proceedings, Judge Woodcock described Choi’s actions as those of a “predator,” highlighting the premeditated nature of his crimes. “After spending years with them and gaining their trust, [Choi] invited them to spend the night with him and drugged them in order to sexually assault them,” she stated.

From November 2020 to August 2021, Choi invited the boys to spend the night at his home or in hotel rooms, where he administered sleeping pills disguised as health supplements. While five of the victims remained unaware of the assaults, one, referred to in court as “X,” awoke during the attack and immediately contacted authorities.

The investigation revealed a disturbing collection of evidence against Choi, including 32 videos documenting the assaults and additional child pornography found on his computer. Under caution, Choi admitted to using an “improper way” to satisfy his sexual needs.

The case has sparked outrage within the community and renewed discussions about the protection of vulnerable children in institutional settings. As Choi begins his prison sentence, advocates are calling for stricter regulations to safeguard children in similar environments from potential abuse.