Japanese idol Kenshin Kamimura convicted for molesting interpreter in Hong Kong

Japanese pop idol Kenshin Kamimura has been convicted of molesting an interpreter working with him during a fan event in Hong Kong earlier this year.

West Kowloon Court on Wednesday found that Kamimura, 26, assaulted the woman by patting and stroking her thigh at a Mong Kok restaurant on March 2.

He was fined HK$15,000 (US$1,910).

The presiding magistrate dismissed the defence’s allegations targeting the prosecution witness’ credibility and ruled the Japanese star could not have genuinely believed that the woman consented to his advances.

Kamimura, who was expelled from the Japanese boy band ONE N’ ONLY because of the case, originally came to the city alongside actor Junsei Motojima to attend a fan meeting at Regala Skycity Hotel on March 1.

The two celebrities and their assistants celebrated the event’s success at Ming Kee Restaurant in Mong Kok later that night.