Japanese actor Uemura Kenshin traveled to Hong Kong in March for a fan meeting but encountered controversy after the event. According to Hong Kong media reports, he allegedly sexually harassed a female translator known as X during a celebratory dinner after the event. The case continued to be heard in court in Hong Kong on the 30th, with fierce arguments between prosecution and defense regarding their interactions that night. The judge ultimately ruled that there was a prima facie case, and the defendant is scheduled to testify in his own defense on the 31st.
According to a report by "HK01," during the hearing on the 30th, the defense lawyer representing Uemura Kenshin questioned the plaintiff, stating that when the defendant showed his phone that night, he actually wanted to invite X to join his LINE fan group rather than for other purposes. However, X denied this claim, emphasizing that she did not notice any related information at the time. When the lawyer suggested that the Japanese sentence might have meant he wanted to ask X to accompany him to the restroom, X countered, "Accompanying someone to the restroom and going to the restroom outside together makes no difference."
Additionally, the lawyer questioned why X did not react immediately when her leg was touched, such as pushing the defendant away or verbally refusing. In response, X said that she was shocked and had never experienced a similar situation, so she did not know how to respond at that moment and was too afraid to speak up directly. However, she also added that she did shrink away at the time, and after this movement, Uemura Kenshin did briefly stop his actions, which she believed was enough to let him know she did not accept such physical contact.
X's female colleague also testified, stating that she was sitting next to X that night and saw Uemura Kenshin’s palm touch X's thigh. The witness recalled that X told her on the spot that she felt scared, and after leaving the table, she broke down emotionally, crying while hugging the witness and saying she was being harassed repeatedly and that the other party “would not listen.” The next day, X told her that she lost sleep and had nightmares due to the incident, ultimately deciding to call the police.
After hearing the testimony from both sides, the judge announced that the prosecution's case had ended and ruled that there was a prima facie case. It is expected that Uemura Kenshin will testify in his own defense on the 31st. After the hearing concluded, Uemura left the court by private car. Outside, dozens of fans waited, with some holding support items to take selfies in solidarity with their idol, creating an atmosphere that was both complex and low-key.
Source: ETTODAY