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Isabel Rose jailed in Hong Kong
A British woman, Isabel Rose, 26, from south-east London, was sentenced to six years in prison in Hong Kong after a court found she blackmailed a banker and perverted the course of public justice over a rape allegation.
“sentenced to five years in prison for blackmail and three years for perverting the course of justice”
The BBC reported that Rose was jailed for blackmail and perverting the course of justice after a court found she made a false allegation of rape, and that the banker was arrested after she reported the incident but later released without charge.
The case centered on WhatsApp messages exchanged between Rose and the banker in the hours and days after the alleged rape on 1 February, with the BBC quoting Rose writing: "You violated me last night, I didn't wanna have sex."
The BBC also reported that prosecutors argued Rose fabricated the allegation to extort £100,000 from the man, whose identity was withheld, and that Rose denied the charges throughout the trial.
Judge cites messages and motive
At sentencing, the judge described Rose’s conduct in terms of intent and remorse, with the BBC reporting that Judge Adriana Tse said the defendant had committed a "cruel and evil" offence by extorting money from the man.
The Guardian reported that Judge Adriana Noelle Tse Ching called the allegation "completely fabricated" and said Rose had "not shown an iota of remorse" before handing down the sentence.
The Guardian said the judge accepted the banker’s account and rejected Rose’s evidence in a 300-page judgment, and it quoted the judge’s view that the banker was "nothing but kind to the defendant" while Rose had "taken advantage of his kindness, naivety, friendship and romantic interest."
The Guardian also reported that Rose’s spokesperson, Radd Seiger, said: "Today is obviously a difficult day for Isabel and her mother, Aysha. We will now take advice from the legal team and consider all available options."
UK consular help and next steps
The BBC said Rose was in Hong Kong’s District Court on Wednesday for sentencing after being convicted in March, and it described how she had been unable to leave Hong Kong while awaiting trial.
“"not shown an iota of remorse for her wicked behaviour,"”
The Hong Kong Free Press reported that Judge Adriana Noelle Tse Ching said Rose had "not shown an iota of remorse for her wicked behaviour," and it described Rose as calm after the judge announced the jail term.
The BBC also reported that the Metropolitan Police opened a file into the allegation but said it was unable to pursue relevant lines of enquiry due to jurisdiction, while the case continued to hinge on the WhatsApp messages and the court’s assessment of credibility.
The Guardian added that UK police can legally investigate sexual assault cases involving British nationals abroad, and it quoted a Met spokesperson saying: "We take reports of this nature extremely seriously and remain committed to investigating all allegations thoroughly."