Alibaba Photo:VCG

The individual charged in an Alibaba-related sexual assault case, has had his appeal rejected on Friday with the original verdict -- 18 months in jail -- upheld, according to the Intermediate People's Court of Jinan in East China's Shandong Province on Friday.

The defendant, Zhang Guo, was sentenced 18 months in jail for committing the crime of "forcible indecency" against a female Alibaba employee in July 2021 by a local court in Jinan on June 22 this year. After the verdict, Zhang applied for an appeal.

The Intermediate People's Court of Jinan handled the case on July 5 and conducted a thorough investigation over the case. Zhang molested the victim against her will while she was drunk and his behavior constituted the crime of forcible indecency according to law, said the court on Friday.

The reasons for Zhang's appeal and the defense opinions have no factual or legal basis and cannot be supported; while the facts of the crime determined by the judgment in first instance were "clear," and the evidence was "solid and sufficient" and the sentence for his conviction was "appropriate," according to the court.

The case topped search trends on Chinese social media Sina Weibo after it was reported last year, which has triggered a heated discussion on the "sexual assault" in working places.  

Alibaba Group said earlier that it has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual misconduct, and ensuring a safe workplace for all the employees is Alibaba's top priority. 

Global Times