Liu Qiangdong (third from right) appeared for the first time after being suspected of sexual assault, and attended the business signing ceremony at the Beijing headquarters of Jingdong Group.(Internet)
(Beijing/Taipei Comprehensive News) Liu Qiangdong, chairman and CEO of JD.com Group, who was suspected of sexual assault in the United States last week, returned to China the day before yesterday and showed up at a business signing event at the Beijing headquarters yesterday.Two lawyers for Liu Qiangdong predicted that the Chinese e-commerce giant would not be indicted by the US justice department.
Based on reports from the Beijing News and Caixin.com, Liu Qiangdong attended the signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation between JD.com and Ruyi Holdings in a dark suit yesterday morning, and talked with Qiu Yafu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ruyi Holdings Group. He was in a good state of mind.
Liu Qiangdong was arrested in Minnesota on Friday night at Central Standard Time on suspicion of sexual misconduct.He was released after being briefly detained for 16 hours, and is currently released pending formal charges.
The US police will end the investigation as soon as this weekend
The Minneapolis police stated that Liu Qiangdong's personal freedom of movement after his release is not restricted, but it does not mean that he is innocent.The police are still investigating the case and are expected to conclude the investigation and release the news as soon as this weekend.
Reuters, Lianhe News quoted Earl Gray, a lawyer hired by Liu Qiangdong in Mingzhou, saying that Liu Qiangdong denied any wrongdoing, was not charged or had any bail conditions, and has been allowed to return to China.Very unlikely.Gray pointed out that although Liu Qiangdong will have an arrest record, it will not have any impact.
Liu Qiangdong's other lawyer, Joseph Friedberg, also stated the day before yesterday that there was no criminal fact, Liu Qiangdong was released without any charges, and he did not need to pay bail and hand over his passport.If it is prosecuted again, it will be a very, very rare case.
Friedberg pointed out that the arrest was only due to someone calling the police, but the police quickly released Liu Qiangdong, and he was completely free.Friedberg said: I think he (Liu Qiangdong) may eventually receive an apology (from the police) for this arrest.
Yesterday, an eyewitness disclosed to Sohu.com that the victim girl was invited to attend Liu Qiangdong’s private banquet on the night of the incident and sat at the same table with him. Because she was the only woman at the table, she was arranged to sit next to Liu Qiangdong.It is reported that 10 people at the table drank a total of 32 bottles of red wine, and the girl was poured a lot of red wine during the table.Drink lists and dinner bills obtained by Minneapolis police during the investigation corroborate the claims.The Sohu report claimed to have a large number of details of the incident, which will be released once authorized by the victim girl.
The Star Tribune, the largest newspaper in Minnesota, reported the day before yesterday, citing two people familiar with the matter, accusing that the person who was sexually assaulted by Liu Qiangdong was a Chinese female student at the University of Minnesota.Ming University currently has about 3,000 Chinese students studying abroad.
According to Taiwan media reports, Cheng Ruzhao, the director of Huaxing News, an overseas Chinese media in Minnesota, published a signed article yesterday, revealing that the incident took place in a famous Italian restaurant in Sao Paulo, the state capital of Minnesota and the second largest city.In the middle of dinner last Friday night, a female student suddenly cried and ran out of the restaurant to call the police, and then Mr. Liu was arrested.The article also said: Fortunately, the milk tea sister (Liu Qiangdong's wife and the nickname of Internet celebrity Zhang Zetian) was not there at the time, otherwise the scene would have been embarrassing.
The travel agency run by Cheng Ruzhao is responsible for receiving Liu Qiangdong's family, including his wife, children and mother-in-law.It is reported that Liu Qiangdong spent at least 3 million yuan (S$604,000) on his trip to the University of Minnesota for five days of advanced studies, taking private jets and luxury cars.
On the other hand, it is reported that the victim girl once posted a distress post in the Wechat Qunming University Law School Alumni Association, hoping that someone can introduce a lawyer for assistance.
