Chinese billionaire Richard Liu settles US rape allegation

Chinese billionaire Richard Liu settles US rape allegation

Richard Liu Qiangdong, founder and former CEO of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by a former University of Minnesota student who accused him of raping her

Mr. Liu Qiangdong in Minnesota in 2018 resulted in a misunderstanding that has consumed substantial public attention and brought profound suffering to the parties and their families.

Just two days prior to the start of the civil trial in a Minneapolis court, the settlement was made public. A jury comprising five women and seven men was chosen on Friday to hear the case.

When Richard Liu visited Minneapolis in 2018 for a week-long residence as part of the University of Minnesota's doctor of business administration China programme, according to Liu Jingyao, the event allegedly took place.

Richard Liu was detained in August 2018 on suspicion of felony rape, but prosecutors decided not to file charges because of "severe evidentiary issues" in the case.

JD.com published a statement in September 2018 saying that Richard Liu “faces false allegations”

Later Liu Jingyao sued Richard Liu and JD.com in 2019, alleging sexual assault and battery, and asked for compensation of $50,000, without capping.