A London woman has been sentenced to six years in a Hong Kong prison after being found guilty of fabricating a rape accusation and attempting to blackmail a banker.
Guilty verdict and sentence
Isabel Rose, 26, from Hackney, east London, was convicted of blackmail and perverting the course of public justice on Wednesday in a Hong Kong district court. The sentence was handed down by Judge Adriana Tse.
Details of the case
Rose had filed a police report claiming she was raped by a banker, identified only as X, in his high-rise apartment in the early hours of February 1, 2024. The case centered on WhatsApp messages exchanged between Rose and the banker after the alleged assault. In those messages, Rose wrote: 'You violated me last night, I didn’t wanna have sex.' The banker replied: 'I am deeply sorry. I was slightly drunk and I misread your signals, it’s no excuse and I know it doesn’t make it any better.'
However, the banker later retracted this apparent admission, telling the court he misunderstood Rose's use of the word 'violated' to refer to an emotional violation rather than a rape allegation. He insisted he had incorrectly read the message in two parts.
Judge's remarks
Judge Tse said the banker had been 'nothing but kind to the defendant' and that Rose had 'taken advantage of his kindness, naivety, friendship and romantic interest.' The judge stated it was 'crystal clear' that Rose had demanded £100,000 from the man she accused of rape.
Rose's lawyers had pleaded for leniency based on her clean criminal record and status as a foreigner in Hong Kong, but the judge rejected these pleas. The judge described X as an 'honest, credible and reliable witness,' while labeling Rose 'dishonest, uncredible and unreliable,' according to the Hong Kong Free Press.
Impact on Rose and the banker
For the two years before her trial, Rose was unable to work or leave Hong Kong. The banker was arrested on suspicion of rape but was never charged. Rose has maintained her innocence throughout.
Regarding Rose's good character, Judge Tse said: 'In the present case, good character is mere absence of convictions,' adding there was 'nothing exemplary.'
Metropolitan Police response
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'We take reports of this nature extremely seriously and remain committed to investigating all allegations thoroughly. However, we have been unable to pursue relevant lines of enquiry in relation to this particular allegation due to a lack of jurisdiction in the relevant country. Should circumstances change, we will pursue all relevant enquiries.'
After the trial, Rose was sent to Tai Lam Correctional Institution, Hong Kong's oldest maximum security women's prison.
