SINGAPORE: More potential victims of Chinese serial rapist Zou Zhenhao have come forward following his conviction, the UK Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday (Apr 2).
The 23 women who came forward following his conviction currently live in the UK, China and other parts of the world, UK police added.
Zou, a Chinese PhD student living in Britain, was in March convicted of raping 10 women – three in London and seven in China. He was found guilty on 11 counts of rape between 2019 and 2023, with two of the offences relating to one victim.
Investigators had revealed then that there may be more than 50 other victim-survivors who had not yet been traced.
“This is a significant step in our ongoing investigation and I’d like to thank the women who have bravely come forward since our appeal,” said Metropolitan Police Commander Kevin Southworth.
“Our priority remains to offer them the best possible support throughout this immensely difficult time,” he added.
According to the UK police, specialist officers have spoken with all of the women who have come forward and “enquiries continue into any potential crimes which have not yet been through the criminal justice process”.
They are also liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service as they build a file of evidence to submit for further consideration by prosecutors following Zou’s sentencing set to take place in June.
UK police believe that there are still more victim-survivors to be traced and urged further victims to “come forward and access specialist support”.
