Rugby player wins sentence review, fine cut to HK$10,000
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 33-year-old Samoan rugby player, Solomona Penesa Faizal, successfully applied to review his sentence at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday, resulting in his total fine being reduced to HK$10,000 from an amount above that threshold . He had earlier admitted one count of criminal damage, was acquitted after trial of indecent assault, but was convicted of common assault instead . The defence argued that a fine above HK$10,000 would prevent him from benefiting from Hong Kong’s Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance, which can allow certain convictions to be treated as spent after three years without reoffending . Magistrate Chu Man-hon said too low a fine could weaken deterrence, but accepted there was room to reduce the penalty .
Key Points
- The case concerned allegations that Faizal molested a woman in a bar at Bobby’s Rabble in Wyndham Mansion, Wyndham Street, Central, on September 28, 2025 .
- He also admitted damaging a door latch belonging to the Hong Kong Police Force at Holding Cell No. 1 in the temporary detention area of Central Police Station .
- After trial, the magistrate found him not guilty of indecent assault but guilty of common assault, alongside the criminal damage charge he had already admitted .
- The defence told the court Faizal is a full-time rugby player and school coach who needs visas to travel abroad for competitions .
- According to the defence, if the ordinance applies and he is not convicted again within three years, he may not need to disclose the conviction in future .
Why It Matters
The ruling shows how sentencing thresholds can affect whether a defendant may later benefit from Hong Kong’s spent-conviction regime under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance . It also illustrates how courts may weigh deterrence against rehabilitation when deciding whether to adjust a financial penalty on review .