Chinese medicine clinic masseur Weiqing Liu admits sexually abusing six women

Weiqing Liu approaches court to plead guilty on Friday. Photo: Albert McKnight.

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to sexual assault.

A traditional Chinese medicine clinic masseur has admitted he raped or sexually abused six women over several years.

It was originally alleged that Weiqing Liu, who was 32 when he was arrested in late 2021, assaulted the women while he was providing services at a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Phillip.

He was handed 17 charges, pleaded not guilty and initially planned to fight them at a trial that was due to start in March 2023.

However, Liu appeared in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday (24 February), assisted by an interpreter and his barrister Stephen Lawrence, and entered guilty pleas to eight charges.

These were three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and five counts of committing an act of indecency without consent.

While the particular details he pleaded guilty to are not yet publicly known, the charges related to six women who he admitted abusing between November 2019 and October 2021.

Liu’s trial date was vacated and the prosecution sought a sentencing date.

Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson adjourned the matter to a directions list on 2 March to organise a date for the sentencing and continued bail.

Liu had worked at the Capital Health Centre of Traditional Chinese Medicine.