[NEWS] Student sues JD.com’s billionaire CEO Richard Liu for alleged rape – Loganspace

A Chinese pupil has filed a lawsuit againstJD.comfounder and chief executiveRichard Liu,alleging the billionaire businessman raped her in Minnesota aid in August, four months after native prosecutors determinednot to press fees.

The lawsuit, which turned into once filed in Hennepin County on Tuesday, is looking fordamages of better than $50,000. It identifies the pupil as Jingyao Liu (not connected to Richard Liu), an undergraduate pupil on the University of Minnesota.

JDfailed to directly respond to a query for touch upon the lawsuit.

Peter Walsh, an prison knowledgeable for JD.com at Hogan Lovells, says the company is “not in field to comment at present” but “will vigorously protect these meritless claims against the company.”

Liu has maintained his innocence by his legal professionals throughout the investigation. The chiefacknowledgedon social media in December that he had “broken no prison pointers” but felt “vulgar self-admonishment and be apologetic about” for the wretchedness that his habits “on that day” dropped at his household and partner, who is an web celeb is named Sister Milk Tea.

In December, Hennepin County Legal knowledgeable Michael Freeman acknowledged he turned into once not charging Liu because “there had been profound evidentiary issues which may maybe perchance maybe maybe delight in made it highly not going that any prison fee is also confirmed beyond an inexpensive doubt.” He additional emphasised his option “had nothing to construct with Liu’s dwelling as a effectively off, foreign businessman.”

Liu’s case has drawn standard ardour in China where the story of Liu’s rags-to-riches has inspired many. If charged and convicted, Liu also can face up to 30 years in detention center.

JD’s stock directly tumbled after the pupil first accused Liu in August over concerns that the case will hamper his capability to bustle the company, which is the arch-rival to Jack Ma’s Alibaba and faces rising competition from ecommerce upstart Pinduoduo.

The corporate’s shares delight in slowly crawled aid since December after the Hennepin County Legal knowledgeable determined not to fee the founder. Nonetheless, JD is coping with sagging morale as spacious-scale layoffshit executivesand a brand new pay plot threatens todepress profitsamongst its armies of couriers.

Up up to now with JD.com’s statement