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Swedish businessman gets seven years in prison for raping domestic worker in Hong Kong apartment

Swedish businessman gets seven years in prison for raping domestic worker in Hong Kong apartment

A Hong Kong court on Monday sentenced a Swedish businessman to seven years in prison after finding him guilty of raping his domestic helper.

Patrik Tobias Ekstrom, 36, was previously found guilty in the Supreme Court of one charge of rape and another of littering without consent for sexually assaulting his helper in his bedroom on the night of October 27, 2022.

According to reports filed with the court on Monday assessing Ekstrom’s mental health, he was considered unstable in mid-2022 after experiencing a number of stresses, including the deteriorating relationship with his wife.

Recorder Derek Chan Ching-lung, who presided over the trial, noted from the reports that the suspect had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which caused him to have high moods, an increased sex drive and manic episodes.

Chan noted that Ekstrom’s mental illness was caused by the departure of his wife and children, which left him feeling abandoned.

“Having sex with (the victim) was a way to deal with his negative feelings,” Chan said, citing the reports.