Police charge man with raping teenage girl in 1983

Following a breakthrough in forensics technology, the police on Tuesday charged a 58-year-old man over the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl at San Fat Estate in Tuen Mun 38 years ago.

He is also accused of robbing HK$160 from the girl, in an incident said to have happened on January 20, 1983. The victim – who was identified in court as X – has already passed away.

Tuen Mun court heard that the defendant, who was 20 years old when he allegedly committed the offences, was only arrested during a stop and search on Sunday afternoon in Tsuen Wan after police confirmed his identity due to a technological breakthrough.

No plea was taken, and the case was adjourned to October 12 pending police investigation, which will include searching for witnesses, recording testimonies and running DNA comparisons to investigate whether the defendant is involved in other cases.