Jailed Dunedin healer told by victim: ‘You are a narcissistic serial predator’

A Dunedin healer who abused seven vulnerable female clients, was told by one victim that he used them for his own ‘’shallow sexual needs’’.

Sonny Hang Chin described himself as a Qi master body technician, urging potential clients not to ‘’suffer in silence’’.

But some of the former clients read from harrowing victim impact statements when the 65-year-old appeared for sentencing before Judge David Robinson in the Dunedin District Court on Wednesday afternoon.

Chin who had been in custody found guilty on 10 charges of indecent assault – ranging from 2007-2019 – by a jury earlier this year, gave little emotion throughout the sentencing.

However, Chin shook his head when Robinson read some of the accounts. That included the healer grabbing at female clients’ genital area and grabbing their breasts, after asking if they had been sexually abused.

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One victim told the court that it had taken 12 years before she was able to make a complaint to police.

‘’Oh my God, he is still doing it,’’ she told the court, when learning that Chin was facing charges.

That made her feel guilty about her not coming forward earlier, after she was assaulted in 2011.

Chin sexually assaulted her – a grieving mother, while she was in the ‘’depths of despair’’.

Chin had described himself as a ‘’self-proclaimed healer’’, but did not heal and only abused that position.

‘’Your actions are inexplicable’’.

His actions had scarred her and others: ‘’It was such a breach of trust between healer and client’’.

‘’You are a narcissistic serial predator.’’

Another victim, who had her statement read in court, was only 21 when she was assaulted.

Chin had abused his position to abuse others, and gratify himself. He used healing to project his own ‘’shallow sexual needs’’.

Two other victims also spoke of the impact of the assault at the hands of Chin, with both having a sense of shame over what transpired.

That was amplified by their experience during the trial, which was an ‘’emotional roller-coaster’’.

‘’You are the one who needs help.’’

The court heard that in one instance Chin asked about how a woman was doing sexually, later grabbing at her pubic area. In another instance he slapped a woman on her pubic bone, and in another case he bit a woman’s nipple.

Another instance involved Chin touching a woman’s breasts, and telling a woman that they were smaller, while in another instance he put his hands down her pants.

Crown prosecutor Pip Norman said the offending against the seven victims involved not just touching, but involved victims who were psychologically or emotionally vulnerable.

Chin’s abuse would focus on follow-up appointments and his line of questioning would focus on sexual abuse, sexual functioning, or commentary on their bodies.

In 2016, he was warned about touching two women, the court heard.

While he had spent five decades ‘’offence free’’ that good character and good reputation gave him access to vulnerable women, she argued.

Chin repeatedly asked victims if they had been sexually abused, and would try to help them from their depression.

His lawyer, Ann Stevens KC, told the court her client had helped a great number of people, and had been of good character.

She sought a reduced sentence, given his age and health.

Robinson noted the pattern of Chin’s offending. No consent was obtained before touching, with all the offences occurring when no-one else was present.

‘’You were abusing your position of trust.’’

Chin was sent to jail for three years and three months.