Man Accused of Rape in Two Separate Incidents
Accusations of rape are extraordinarily rare in China, despite increasing attention to the issue in recent years.
A 20-year-old man is in police custody after a second accusation of rape was made against him within hours of his release from detention on Friday.
The man, surnamed Zou, is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in the city of Qiqihar before allegedly attacking a woman in her 30s hours later, according to police in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang.
Police detained Zou on Friday afternoon on suspicion of sexually assaulting the woman. Early on Saturday morning, police were alerted to a second sexual assault of the child and were able to quickly link Zou to the crime.
Both victims required medical attention, though further details of their conditions have not been released. Zou has been detained and is undergoing interrogation, according to police.
In China, crimes of rape carry a maximum sentence of death.
