Police in Nanjing, east China have arrested an 18-year-old man for the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in public. The scene was captured by a social media user and the pictures went viral, sparking discussions and debates over child sex abuse in China. Jin Yingqiao has more.

 

These pictures were posted by Weibo user @WriterChenLan on the social media site. Apparently taken on August 12, the photos show a young man putting his hand inside a girl's dress in a public waiting area at Nanjing Railway Station. A witness sent me the photos anonymously, @WriterChenLan wrote on Weibo. There are only three seats available. The girl was the only one left standing beside three adults. But after a while, the young man asked the girl to sit on his knee. The girl of about 12 years old doesn't seem to react to the groping. Local police in Henan Province announced the arrest of the young man on Tuesday following a two-day investigation. They said the girl was adopted by the family of the 18-year-old man. Chinese netizens rebuked the man and his actions. One said If the family give up the adoption, who will take care of the orphan? Even if the girl stays with the family, she could be abused again. This affair has hurt the girl anyway." 

 

Similar cases were posted online under the heels.In this picture, a man appears to sexually assault a girl in a hospital in Chongqing. The man was identified by the police as the girl's uncle. Also, postings that say a teacher sexually abused a girl have also emerged. Two suspects have been apprehended and the case is still under investigation. China has seen a greater number of underage sexual assault cases in recent years. Last year alone, more then 400 incidents were reported by the media. Over 70 percent of sexual assault cases ARE committed by acquaintances, which include the victim's relatives, family members, teachers and neighbors. From 2013 to 2016, over ten-thousand incidents of sexual assault against children were filed by the authorities. A high number, yet it's estimated to be only about a seventh of all cases across the country. The majority of victims would rather remain silent. JYQ, CGTN.