Liu Jingyao and Liu Qiangdong: Chinese billionaire sexual assault case settled in US

In a stunning twist of events on the eve of their court battle, Richard Liu - better known to the Chinese as Liu Qiangdong - and Liu Jingyao have agreed on a settlement, averting trial. At the time, Liu Jingyao was studying at the University of Minnesota, and was invited to attend a networking dinner organised for Richard Liu, the well-connected founder of e-retailing giant JD. com, and other powerful Chinese executives. Liu Jingyao says she was pressured to drink excessive amounts of alcohol at the dinner by Richard Liu and other guests. In April 2019 Liu Jingyao filed a civil lawsuit against Richard Liu accusing him of sexual assault and claiming at least $50,000 in damages. They show Richard Liu and Liu Jingyao interacting outside the restaurant where they had dinner and at her apartment block, and also Liu Jingyao speaking to police shortly after the incident. What is certain is that the clips have had a lasting effect among the Chinese public in stoking support for Richard Liu and contempt for Liu Jingyao, who has been labelled a "Gold-digger" and "Slut". On Sunday, hours after news broke of the settlement, most of the commenters on Chinese social media appeared to see it as confirmation that Liu Jingyao had sued him to get a payout.