A Swedish businessman convicted of raping his domestic worker in Hong Kong has launched an appeal against his seven-year prison sentence, with the case now being examined by the city’s Court of Appeal.

Patrik Tobias Ekstrom, thirty-six, was previously found guilty by a jury of rape and non-consensual sexual assault involving his domestic helper during an incident at his residence in the coastal district of Shek O in October two thousand twenty-two.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison by the High Court in November two thousand twenty-four after jurors unanimously accepted the prosecution’s case.

During the trial, prosecutors told the court that Ekstrom forced the domestic worker into sexual acts despite her repeated refusal and threats allegedly made during the encounter.

The victim, identified only by the letter “X” to protect her identity, later left the residence and reported the incident to police the following day, triggering the investigation that led to Ekstrom’s arrest.

The jury concluded that the acts were carried out without consent, rejecting the defence’s claim that the sexual activity had been consensual.

Ekstrom had argued that he and the worker had previously engaged in a relationship and maintained that the encounter on the night in question occurred with her agreement.

In mitigation before sentencing, defence lawyers said the businessman had been experiencing significant personal stress at the time of the incident, including the breakdown of his marriage and the departure of his family from Hong Kong.

Medical reports presented to the court also stated that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The trial judge ruled that the offence represented a serious abuse of trust involving a vulnerable employee dependent on her employer for housing and livelihood.

Although rape convictions in Hong Kong can carry sentences up to life imprisonment, the court imposed a seven-year term after considering the circumstances of the case.

The appeal now before the Court of Appeal focuses on arguments by Ekstrom’s legal team challenging aspects of the trial and the interpretation of evidence presented to the jury.

Defence lawyers are expected to argue that the conviction was unsafe and that the sentence should be reconsidered.

Hong Kong’s prosecution service is contesting the appeal and is expected to defend both the jury’s verdict and the original sentence.

The appellate court will examine the trial record, legal submissions and evidentiary issues before determining whether the conviction should stand.

The case has drawn attention within Hong Kong’s large community of migrant domestic workers, many of whom rely on their employers for accommodation and employment visas.

Advocacy groups have said the case highlights the challenges domestic workers may face when reporting abuse, while legal experts note that successful rape prosecutions involving employers remain relatively rare.

Judges at the Court of Appeal are expected to deliver a decision after reviewing the arguments from both sides, determining whether the conviction and sentence should be upheld or whether further legal proceedings are required.