A British woman has been sentenced to six years in prison in Hong Kong after a court found her guilty of falsely accusing a local banker of rape and attempting to extort more than HK$1 million (about £100,000) from him.
The District Court convicted Isabel Anonia Barbra Eudora Rose of blackmail and perverting the course of justice following an investigation into the allegations.
Relationship began in Thailand
According to the court, Rose met the banker while travelling in Thailand before he arranged for her to travel to Hong Kong, where she stayed at his home.
The pair later entered into a relationship and remained in regular contact.
Messages presented as evidence in court showed Rose referred to the banker as her “sugar daddy” and “my love”, indicating the close nature of their relationship.
Court rejects rape allegation
The court heard that on January 31, 2024, the pair engaged in consensual intimate activity at the banker’s residence.
During the encounter, the banker attempted to initiate sexual intercourse but stopped after Rose declined, according to the court’s findings.
Following an investigation, prosecutors concluded that the rape allegation was false and that Rose had attempted to use the accusation to extort more than HK$1 million from the banker.
The District Court subsequently found her guilty of blackmail and perverting the course of justice.
Six-year prison sentence
The court sentenced Rose to six years’ imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness of making false criminal allegations and attempting to obtain money through blackmail.
The ruling brings to a close a case that attracted significant public attention in Hong Kong due to the nature of the allegations and the criminal offences involved.
