A self-proclaimed “massage master” who was previously jailed for groping his clients will not return to prison over another molestation.
Sonny Hang Chin, 68, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this afternoon after pleading guilty to one count of indecent assault.
The sentencing exercise was complicated by the issue of “totality”, which meant Judge Hermann Retzlaff had to consider the crime as though it was part of the defendant’s previous raft of charges.
He sentenced Chin to four months’ home detention.
The victim came forward and told police about her ordeal in March, just weeks after the disgraced healer had been released from prison.
In June 2023, Chin was locked up for three years three months after a jury found him guilty of 10 indecent assault charges, encompassing seven female clients.
The women were always adamant there were other victims out there and some told the Otago Daily Times they were saddened but unsurprised by the emergence of yet another workplace sex attack.
The court heard the latest victim visited Chin in May 2015 seeking relief from back pain, after the defendant was recommended to her by a colleague.
While the first session was unremarkable, the second a month later left the woman feeling “very attacked”.
Chin spoke about energy and chi while the victim lay on her back on the treatment table but then shifted the conversation, telling her she should be ashamed of how she used her body to manipulate men.
According to court documents, the woman became visibly upset and asked him to focus on her back pain.
There was nothing wrong with her, Chin said, grabbing her legs while standing over her.
“The victim had become confused and felt vulnerable,” a police summary said.
Chin told her you have “two working legs” and “two arms”, gripping her limbs in turn as he did so.
He then said “two breasts” and grabbing them too.
The victim immediately left the premises after paying for the session, the court heard.
When interviewed by police, Chin said he did not recall the woman.
Crown prosecutor Craig Power said the defendant was in a position of trust and committed the “clearly premeditated” crime for his own sexual gratification.
He also noted Chin had minimised his offending by saying he was pleading guilty for “pragmatic reasons”.
Judge Retzalff said the Probation report indicated the man lacked insight and he highlighted the impact the woman had endured over the last decade.
“She came to you for help and you turned that into this offending,” he said.
The court heard there had been no behaviour of concern since Chin had been on parole.