Chinese movie star Yunxiang Gao refused bail over alleged Sydney rape
A CHINESE movie star will fight a series of “sobering” rape allegations from behind bars after being denied bail over an alleged rape at Sydney’s Shangri-La Hotel at The Rocks.
NSW
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A CHINESE movie star who described himself as the “Hugh Jackman of China” will fight a series of “sobering” rape allegations from behind bars.
Chinese television and movie star Yunxiang Gao, 36, allegedly raped and assaulted a 36-year-old woman at the Shangri-La Hotel at Sydney's The Rocks in March alongside co-accused Chinese film producer Jing Wang.
Wearing a green jumper and a solemn expression, Gao was flanked by a legion of fans and Chinese journalists today as he appeared at a crowded Central Local Court on video link to apply for bail.
The crowd was so large security guards were placed at the courtroom entrance and Sydney journalists were told it was too packed to enter.
Magistrate Sharon Claire Freund formally refused bail saying the police prosecution had a strong case and, if found guilty, Gao would likely spend the rest of his life in jail.
She also compared Gao to notorious Polish film director Roman Polanski who infamously fled the US after being accused of rape.
“I note that the version of the events given by the complainant has been corroborated by independent source,” she said.
“This includes CCTV footage from the hotel and semen found in the hotel room and blood and a palm print which corroborates her evidence that she was forced to stand against the wall.
“(The defence argues) his client is the equivalent of Hugh Jackman in China and to flee justice would be the end of his career.
“If Mr Gao is convicted of this offence his life would be ruined (but) I can only look at the example of Roman Polanski.
“I also note there is no extradition treaty with China.”
The court heard the alleged victim was working alongside Gao on a production based in Sydney.
Gao’s wife Dong Xuan is also a Chinese movie star, adding to the international interest in the case.
The pair married in 2011 and have a baby nicknamed “Little Dimple”.
Dong Xuan — who is in Australia to support her husband — released a statement to Chinese media saying she believed her husband was innocent.
“Sorry for making everyone worry. I believe in him,” she said.
Gao offered to surrender $400,000 through a company as a surety for bail but Ms Freund said the figure may not be significant for a movie star.
“It’s still not clear to me what this company does but it often has sums of $2 million coming in and out every day,” she said.
“Although the loss of $400,000 to the ordinary person might be significant I am not convinced it would be a deterrent.”
Gao’s 2012 Chinese box-office hit Drug War earned him millions of followers on social media and he was applauded for his work in the popular Chinese historical drama The Legend Of Mi Yue.
The matter has been adjourned until June 7.