A male university professor from Hong Kong is suspected of impersonating a student in Sydney, Australia, entering campus in boys' school uniform to take at least 36 photos of students on campus before being discovered by teachers and apprehended on the spot. The professor was given an 18-month conditional release order by the local court and returned to Hong Kong on Friday (the 6th).
According to Sing Tao Daily, the man was wearing a Sydney Grammar School uniform and had a school bag by his foot when arrested on the 3rd. At the time, teachers at the school noticed an adult male in uniform attempting to blend in with a group of students in Hyde Park and removed him from the students. The school then notified the police, who came and arrested the man.
It is reported that the arrested man, surnamed Li, is a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and also a Canadian citizen. When discovered, he was said to have knelt with his face covered, crying and pleading with school staff: "Sorry! I am so sorry!"
The arrested man had arrived in Sydney the previous week and had visited several school uniform suppliers to purchase uniforms from four top boys' schools. Police later found, in his hotel room, the other three school uniforms, two USB drives, a laptop, and a mobile phone containing photos of male students.
Investigations reveal the man had taken at least 36 photos of students and had also appeared on campus at Sydney Grammar School in uniform in 2020, after which he emailed a uniform supplier to purchase knee-length socks. That incident had already been reported to police.
After his arrest, the man was charged and appeared in court, where he admitted to one count of ‘stalking or intimidation’ and two counts of ‘trespassing’. He was sentenced to 18 months’ conditional release and granted bail to return to Hong Kong.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong responded to media enquiries saying it is aware of and highly concerned about the incident, emphasizing that the university attaches great importance to staff code of conduct. The university has suspended the staff member’s duties and will form a committee to investigate the matter according to relevant procedures. If violations are found, the university will handle the case seriously.