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Fiona Chow

An associate professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has denied indecently assaulting a woman who reported him upon discovering he was a married man.
Peng Peng, 38, appeared at Sha Tin Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault. The complainant, a fellow scholar, had been seeking an academic job and relocation opportunities in Hong Kong.
According to CUHK’s website, Peng teaches in the department of fine arts and holds a doctoral degree from Princeton University.
The alleged offences took place on May 21, 2025, when the pair went to Ma On Shan for dinner after visiting the university’s art museum.
The mainland Chinese woman told the court that Peng touched her waist and hip while they were standing side by side in a restaurant. She also alleged that on an earlier occasion, he placed his hand on her waist while they were crossing a road.
Senior counsel Tony Li Chung-yin, representing Peng, argued that the complainant had not given truthful testimony.
He said email exchanges showed the pair had been seeing each other and that Peng believed she was receptive to limited physical contact.
Li added that during their visit to the art museum, the pair engaged in conversations containing sexual innuendo, including remarks about her toes and the colour of her toenails.

Referring to security camera footage from the restaurant, Li said the complainant appeared cheerful and continued chatting with the defendant after the alleged incident.
The court heard that the complainant met Peng at an academic conference and remained in contact as she explored career opportunities in Hong Kong.
The complainant said in the witness box that she had become acquainted with Peng after an academic conference and kept in touch with him as she planned to find a job in academia in Hong Kong.
Before the alleged incident, the pair had gone on a hike and talked in-depth. But she said the defendant never mentioned he was a married man and a father.
“This planted a seed for what happened next,” Li said.
After their dinner on May 21, the complainant spoke with a friend that night and learned of Peng’s marital status.
The following day, she went to CUHK to lodge a complaint before reporting the matter to police.
Within the same week, she asked officers to pause the investigation pending a response from the university.
Li suggested the complainant might have been motivated by a desire to jeopardise Peng’s career after learning of his family situation, and urged the court to treat her evidence with caution.
Peng exercised his right not to testify. The court is expected to deliver its verdict on August 24.


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Law and Crime

Peng Peng accused of touching waist and hip of fellow scholar, but defence says he thought she was receptive to limited physical contact


Peng Peng accused of touching waist and hip of fellow scholar, but defence says he thought she was receptive to limited physical contact.


Crime in Hong Kong

Peng Peng

CUHK academic who allegedly hid marital status from woman denies indecent assault

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Peng Peng accused of touching waist and hip of fellow scholar, but defence says he thought she was receptive to limited physical contact

Peng Peng accused of touching waist and hip of fellow scholar, but defence says he thought she was receptive to limited physical contact