Hong Kong Taoist masters still hard at it

A 47-year-old Hong Kong woman was conned out of HK$1.5m (£120,000) and persuaded to have sex with two Taoist "masters" on the promise of receiving HK$130m (£10.4m) in "heavenly treasure", HK's The Standard reports.

Appearing before District Court judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi, who recently sent down a truck-driving Taoist Mao Shan master for duping an aspiring model into career-boosting sex, 44-year-old Deng Qianxiang "pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud between September 2008 and May 2009".

The victim's ordeal began in September 2008, when she accompanied one "Master Tang", who she'd known for 20 years, to worship at a altar in a flat in Wan Chai. After praying, she was "told to sprinkle some water onto a yellow paper in front of the goddess' statue".

Writing appeared on the paper declaring: "You were born with wisdom and will become wealthy. Prepare HK$50,000 [£4,000]. But don't tell anyone, or you will be struck by a calamity."

The woman, an unmarried clerk known only as "X", duly withdrew the cash from the bank and gave it to the gang, which also included Deng, masquerading as "Master Zhou", and one "Master Liu".

However, X was subsequently told she'd need to stump a further HK$60,000 (£4,800) and various gifts to secure the "heavenly treasure", and following the revelation she didn't have enough "positive energy" to claim her prize, was ordered to have sex with Deng and Master Liu.

Deng had his evil way seven times with the victim, while Master Liu enjoyed one positive-energy-boosting session.

Further demands for money prompted X's concerned family to insist she go to the police. Deng's two accomplices remain at large, while their victim is in deep financial trouble having borrowed the total of HK$1.5m from "family and financial companies" to pay for their services.

The court heard that the trio had pulled the same stunt on at least 30 other women, none of whom was willing to testify in court.

Judge Chan adjourned sentencing on Deng until 11 February, "pending a victim's impact statement, and a psychological report on the accused". ®