Ex-pop idol Kenshin Kamimura convicted of molesting interpreter in Hong Kong

Tokyo Reported

5 hours ago

HONG KONG (TR) – A court here has found former Japanese pop idol Kenshin Kamimura guilty of molesting a female interpreter after a fan event held earlier this year, reports Jiji Press (Aug. 13).
On Wednesday, the court convicted Kamimura, a former member of One N' Only, of indecent assault and fined him 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (279,786 yen). The presiding magistrate said his behavior was 'patently a disrespect of women.'
From the night of March 1 to early the next day, Kamimura repeatedly massaged one of the interpreter's thighs during a dinner that followed the fan event. He also invited her to go to a bathroom with him by showing her a message on his smartphone.
Kamimura and the victim were not acquainted before the incident. The fan event was for his appearance in the television drama 'Our Youth.' On March 2, police arrested Kamimura. The following month, he pleaded not guilty at a hearing.
Kamimura did not offer a defense in court about the incident. However, his lawyer argued that 'the venue was small, and it's possible that the act involved knee-to-knee contact.' Kenshin Kamimura (X)
Also in attendance for the hearing on Wednesday were about 110 people, including fans from Japan and China. During the reading of the verdict, many of them could be heard crying.
Talent agency Stardust Promotion Inc. announced the termination of Kamimura's contract after his arrest. The company said that he had undertaken 'a serious breach of compliance.'
In 2015, Kamimura made his acting debut in the short film 'How is the Sky Over There?' He has since appeared in many television dramas. In 2018, he joined One N' Only. His departure from the group was announced at the same time as the termination of his contract.