Sonny Hang Chin, 67, was sentenced to three years, three months’ imprisonment in June 2023 after a jury found him guilty of 10 counts of indecent assault
The Parole Board released him in January with nearly 18 months remaining on his sentence on the basis he was assessed as a low risk and there was no treatment available to him behind bars.
The Otago Daily Times revealed last month Corrections had made an application to have Chin returned to prison, which usually occurs if an offender has breached their parole conditions or behaved in a way that indicates they have become an undue risk to the community.
The recall hearing was held this week and the board confirmed no final recall order was made, meaning the disgraced healer will continue living in the community, subject to parole conditions.
The reason for the attempt to return him to prison cannot be published.
At trial, the Dunedin District Court heard from a string of Chin’s former clients who gave consistent accounts of the sexual assaults they suffered.
Chin would attempt to convince the women they had unresolved trauma as a result of sexual abuse they had suffered.
He told the jury his acts, which comprised a variety of indecent touching, were an urgent response to relieve the victims of the negative energy they harboured.
But his long-winded explanations were firmly rejected.
Chin continued the protracted monologues about energy readings with the Parole Board while also claiming he accepted his crimes.
At the hearing before his release, he was asked why he wrote an apology to his victims.
"Because I’ve hurt them. I’ve triggered their trauma and I’m sorry about that," Chin said.
Among his parole conditions was a ban on working without the permission of Probation but Chin stressed he was now retired.
He will see the board again for a monitoring hearing in August.
rob.kidd@odt.co.nz , Court reporter
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