JD.com President Liu Qiangdong revealed more details about the sexual assault of female college students in the United States. The victim claimed that he was tricked into attending the dinner.
According to Bloomberg News, when the 21-year-old victim attended the dinner, he thought it was to thank volunteers like her.
As it turned out, she found herself among a dozen Chinese business executives.They were all students in a doctoral program in management disciplines at the school, which she has been volunteering for.Among the group was a Chinese businessman named Yao Qiyong whom she had met the other day, and who had invited her to the dinner.Yao Qiyong arranged for her to sit next to Liu Qiangdong, the CEO of JD.com, the richest man in China; while the boys who came with her were arranged at another table with the assistants of these executives.
According to documents reviewed by Bloomberg, the woman’s testimony to police and a WeChat message she sent to a friend.Her attorney, Wil Florin, was also interviewed by Bloomberg.It is the first time that Yao Qiyong invited her to the dinner party, which brought new information to this incident.The girl reported that she was raped by Liu Qiangdong in her residence.Liu Qiangdong denied it.Yao Qiyong has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and he could not be reached for comment.
Throughout the night, cups and cups were exchanged.Liu Qiangdong and the men at the same table frequently persuaded the girl to drink and asked her to drink.She said in a WeChat message to a friend the next day that she felt like she was being given alcohol.Florin asked: Why didn't any of these wealthy bosses act like a mature boss and protect her, but instead tried to persuade her to drink?
Liu Qiangdong was arrested the next night and was released after nearly 17 hours of detention. He was not charged and returned to China soon.This version of the description is full of unverified information, and the provider clearly has ulterior motives, said Liu Qiangdong's attorney, Jill Brisbois.Due to the ongoing investigation, Liu Qiangdong cannot defend himself in the media.We urge everyone to wait for the prosecutor's decision rather than continue to come up with one-sided and inaccurate accounts.When all relevant evidence is made public, Liu Qiangdong's innocence and the whole incident will be in front of everyone.A representative for JD.com did not immediately respond to a request for comment, referring instead to a previously issued statement.Liu Qiangdong was released without any charges and was not required to post bail, the statement said.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office said in September that the Minneapolis Police Department has completed its investigation and the case has been referred to prosecutors.Prosecutors are weighing whether to bring criminal charges.In criminal cases, prosecutors must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.In a civil case, the plaintiff need only show that it was more likely than not that the defendant committed a wrongful act.
News of the rape allegation sent shockwaves around the world, adding to the controversies surrounding male executives.In the more than a year since the #MeToo movement began in the US, more than 400 men, mostly Americans, have been charged with sexual harassment and assault, and the careers of prominent entrepreneurs, journalists and entertainers have endedcareer.
Investors in JD.com have also taken to heart, with JD.com shares down 33% since the end of August.Analysts said that Liu Qiangdong's absolute voting power has made the company's fate closely linked to his own.When people think of JD.com, they think of Liu Qiangdong because he is the visionary founder, said Kim Eng Securities analyst Mitchell Kim.Investors focus on the company, and we all assume that he is the one who guides the company's strategic vision.If he is indicted, it would deal a further blow to the stock.
The doctoral program Liu Qiangdong participated in in the United States was co-sponsored by the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and Tsinghua University in China, targeting Chinese industry giants.Most of the courses take place in Beijing, with the final stage in the United States.The University of Minnesota declined to comment for this story.
Other students include Yao Qiyong.According to the student materials of this project, Yao Qiyong is the chairman of Shenzhen Hongzhao Enterprise Group.This is an equity investment and fund management group.In the girl's police report, she said she met Yao Qiyong earlier in the week when she was working as a volunteer coordinator for a running event.After several conversations, he won her trust and offered her a job after she graduated.Florin of the Florin Roebig law firm said Liu Qiangdong asked Yao Qiyong to make sure the girl attended the dinner.Yao Qiyong did not respond to an email seeking comment.A receptionist at Hongzhao Group's Shenzhen headquarters said Yao was on a business trip and declined to say when he would return.Yao Qiyong is also a director of Rich Medical Services Holdings Limited.A representative for Rich said the company was unable to comment on the matter.
According to the girl's WeChat account and her statement to the police, those who attended the dinner drank a lot of alcohol.According to the female lawyer and the photos and documents seen by Bloomberg, her friend and Liu Qiangdong's assistant (neither named in the materials seen by Bloomberg) were asked to go out and buy wine twice that night, totaling 32bottle.
At some point that night, the girl's male friend — also a volunteer — was called to another dinner, half an hour away, by another executive who was on the program, Florin said.Later, she left with Liu Qiangdong and took Liu Qiangdong's limousine to a place she didn't know.She said in the police report that they sat in the back seat and Liu tried to kiss her and undress her.You have a wife and children, she said to Liu Qiangdong.Don't do this, I don't want this.After she repeatedly asked Liu Qiangdong to take her back to the apartment, he agreed.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune and Reuters previously reported some of the details in the police report.
After arriving at her apartment, she got out of the car, followed by Liu Qiangdong, asking the driver and assistant to wait in the car.Once inside her apartment, she said, he tried to undress her and threw her on the bed, where she fled at one point.According to her account, she told him no and repeatedly refused him to go any further.
Liu Qiangdong then asked her to shower together.When she refused, he tried to force her into the shower.He finished his shower and went into her bedroom while she went into the bathroom, locked the door, and changed her shower-soaked clothes.When she came out, she found him lying naked on the bed.He refuses to leave.In the end, he threw me on the bed and held me by the shoulders to immobilize me, she said.He then began having sex with her against her will, she told police.
She said she kept the sheets as evidence.
