Unlicensed massage therapist pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 19-year-old girl
A Chinese-run massage parlor in Midtown Manhattan recently had a sexual assault. A 19-year-old woman was forcibly touched on her private parts and kissed on her mouth by a Chinese male masseur while receiving services. After the incident, the Chinese man who reported living in Flushing, Queens, was arrested. He pleaded guilty to all charges this week, admitting to performing massage without authorization and molesting the victim.
According to city police records, the South District Police Station in Midtown Manhattan received a report of a sexual assault last year. The incident occurred at about 4 p.m. on November 26. A 19-year-old woman was touched on her private parts without permission and forcibly kissed on her mouth by a 36-year-old man while receiving services at Wildflower Spa at 41 West 33rd Street.
Court documents show that after the victim paid for the services of Kefu Li (all names are transliterated), she was instructed to lie face down on the massage bed, but felt that the other party “pulled down her panties and began to massage her buttocks.” Afterwards, the woman felt Li Kefu spread her legs apart and massaged her buttocks and genitals, even applying pressure on the vaginal opening with his knuckles.
After being molested, the girl immediately looked up and turned around, and Li Kefu took off his mask and kissed her lips. She immediately put her hand against his chest to push him away, and Li Kefu apologized on the spot. The victim told the police that she did not agree with Li Kefu’s behavior. After being arrested, Li Kefu also told the police that he did not hold a massage therapist license.
After nearly two months of investigation, the police arrested the suspect Li Kefu on January 8 this year. He lived in the “Zhuangyuan Building” at 41-05 College Point Blvd. in Flushing. Documents from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office show that Li Kefu was charged with three counts, including intentional and improper molestation of another’s intimate parts, sexual assault on another person without consent, and the primary charge of operating without a license. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to four years in prison.
On June 25, Li Kefu pleaded guilty to operating without a license and forced indecent assault, and the other charge was merged. The District Attorney’s Office said that the court will postpone his sentencing for six months. During this period, if Li Kefu successfully completes the “Queens Counseling for Change” program, complies with the temporary protection order against the victim and has no new arrest record, he can withdraw his guilty plea to operating without a license and be sentenced to conditional discharge only for indecent assault.
The conditional discharge is for one year, and the conditions include not being arrested again and complying with the complete protection order that is finally issued. Li Kefu’s attorney Kevin Tung refused to respond to the result of this guilty plea.
At the end of last month, the person in charge of the Manhattan branch of “Likang Massage” said by phone that she did not know who Li Kefu was and that he had never worked in the store. Regarding the case, she just repeatedly emphasized “I don’t know.”
The official website shows that “Likang Massage” has a branch in Flushing, and its business includes full-body massage, eyelash grafting and facial care. According to the state government’s requirements, any massage operator must apply for a massage therapist license. However, a search on the state government’s website did not find any licensed massage therapists under the name of “Likang Massage”.
Li Kefu’s next court date is December 17 (Wednesday).
