HONG KONG: A self-styled Taoist master has been found guilty of duping a teenage model into participating in phony sex rituals meant to improve her career.

District Court Judge Stanley Chan found bulldozer driver Au Yeung Kwok-fu guilty of luring and taking advantage of the 19-year-old girl under false pretenses.

Delivering his two-and-a-half-hour judgment which included accounts of Au Yeung and the women's liaison at the District Court yesterday, Chan said although Au Yeung and the unidentified girl had sex consensually, it was only because Au-yeung had tricked the model into unwitting participation.

Chan also lambasted Au-yeung for taking advantage of what he called "a simple-minded person with little experience" who was "stupid and ignorant" to believe Au Yeung.

Calling Au Yeung's testimony a pack of lies, Chan said the crux of the issue was Au Yeung's false statements that made the model believe he could change her fate.

Chan also said it was ridiculous the sex rituals could be considered as part of Taoist doctrine.

Sitting in the dock with his head held high at the opening of court yesterday, Au Yeung was seen wiping away tears towards the end of the judgment while more than a dozen onlookers from the public gallery watched.

After Chan delivered his verdict, he said a binding order would be considered as punishment, which would keep Au Yeung out of prison so long as he behaved himself.

Sentencing has been scheduled for January 21 pending a psychiatric review.

The guilty verdict had been delayed from last week after Au Yeung became unwell during a court recess complaining of heart problems.

He was released from hospital care over the weekend after doctors said he was fit to stand trial.

Au Yeung had plead not-guilty at the trial's onset to nine counts of procuring unlawful sexual acts by false pretenses.

He duped the 19-year-old model into having sex nine times from April to December 2007, the court heard.

Testifying from behind a blind, the model, who is now 21 years old, had earlier told the court she performed oral and vaginal intercourse on nine occasions with Au Yeung who claimed it was part of a Taoist ritual that would improve her luck and career - a claim that Chan rejected.

The rituals the model performed with Au Yeung included chanted spells over lit incense and written talismans that were applied before and during the sex acts, which could not end until the incense burned out, the court heard.

Au Yeung also claimed, according to reports, that he had supernatural powers that would prevent her from becoming pregnant.

The women was referred to Au Yeung through her manager, Carry Leung.

The matter came to light when the woman became pregnant.

She had an abortion on January 21 last year and sought help from a social worker who then contacted police.

(HK Edition 01/05/2010 page1)