British woman jailed in Hong Kong after making false rape allegations

Isabel Rose, who travelled to Hong Kong in 2024, said she was raped in the man’s apartment shortly after arriving in the city. Photograph: supplied View image in fullscreen Isabel Rose, who travelled to Hong Kong in 2024, said she was raped in the man’s apartment shortly after arriving in the city. Photograph: supplied British woman jailed in Hong Kong after making false rape allegations Isabel Rose, 26, given six-year sentence for blackmail and perverting course of justice after accusing British banker A British woman who reported being raped to police in Hong Kong has been sentenced to six years in prison for blackmail and perverting the course of public justice. Isabel Rose, 26, from south-east London traveled to Hong Kong in early 2024 to visit a British banker she had met while travelling in south-east Asia. “I came here with four days of clothes, not realising I would be here for two years.” Rose said while out on bail. “Somewhere along the line, quite early on, something went wrong,” she added. The Hong Kong district judge, Adriana Noelle Tse Ching, said Rose had “not shown an iota of remorse” before handing down the sentence in Hong Kong’s district court, calling the allegation “completely fabricated”. The events manager, who was first arrested in 2024, maintained throughout the proceedings that she was raped. Radd Seiger, the spokesperson for Rose, said “Today is obviously a difficult day for Isabel and her mother Aysha. We will now take advice from the legal team and consider all available options.” In court, Rose, dressed in a black jacket over a white top, looked across at supporters as the judge handed down the sentence. She appeared solemn and gestured to the public gallery as she was escorted out of the dock. The case centred on allegations that Rose demanded money from the British banker, who can not be named for legal reasons, after she accused him of raping her. Rose travelled to Hong Kong in January 2024 after meeting the banker on holiday in Thailand. They stayed in touch and he later invited her to Hong Kong and offered to pay for her flights. Rose said she was raped in his apartment about 12 hours after landing in Hong Kong and reported the allegation to police. Police initially arrested the man but later released himandarrested Rose. She was subsequently charged with blackmail and perverting the course of public justice. Forensic testing to establish the rape was inconclusive. In a 300-page judgment, the judge said she accepted the man’s account and rejected Rose’s evidence. The court heard that Rose asked for £5,000 after the alleged sexual assault and later demanded £100,000 while threatening to report him to the police, claims Rose denied. Rose said the money was compensation that the man offered to cover flights, accommodation and medical costs. The judge said the escalating demands amounted to blackmail. Rose was released on bail after the arrest but was unable to leave Hong Kong for almost two years while awaiting tri