Brit coffee shop boss Jamie Chapman, 34, ‘had affair with housekeeper’ before her body was found at Hong Kong waterfall
A BRIT businessman who has been charged with the murder of a female housekeeper reportedly had an affair with her.
Cops arrested Jamie Tzewee Chapman, 34, after the woman was found at the bottom of a waterfall on Hong Kong island.
The victim, identified as Mevi Novitasari, 25, was found by locals on Monday in Waterfall Bay Park.
Once cops recovered the body, they found Novitasari had severe head wounds with police believing she was hit in the head and then drowned, ABC reports.
Novitasari did not work for Chapman but allegedly had an affair with him, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Hong Kong cops says Chapman was seen entering the waterfall with Novitasari on Sunday night – but left alone after about 30 minutes.
One witness claimed to the SCMP that Chapman tried to break up with the domestic worker at the top of the waterfall before she allegedly jumped.
They told the Hong Kong newspaper: “They took a taxi to the park, where the man asked to break up with her.
“But the woman became emotionally agitated and suddenly jumped off the waterfall.”
Novitasari, who had lived in Hong Kong for four years, was then found in the water Monday morning.
Chapman never reported her death to the authorities and instead fled to Mainland China with his wife.
The couple were caught and arrested on Tuesday at a high-speed railway station after returning to Hong Kong.
Police superintendent Sin Kwok-ming said Novitasari’s clothes remained untouched, possibly ruling out a physical altercation.
Sin said that the Brit was suspected because of his behaviour, and because he did not report the incident.
The official said: “A lot of things about him were unreasonable.
“[…] Some evidence had also disappeared for no reason.
“All these circumstances suggest that this is not a case of natural death.”
The wife, a Hong Konger, was held on suspicion of aiding a criminal.
She was then freed on bail pending further investigation.
Champman made his first court appearance Friday as cops continued to investigate the case.
Pictured for the first time, he was seen in a red shirt and sweater, sitting in the back of a police vehicle.
In court, he did not enter a plea and his lawyer did not request bail.
The judge adjourned his case to January to give time for further investigation.
The Indonesian consulate and her employment agency will help repatriate Novitasari’s body.
She was from Cilacap in Central Java province, Indonesia officials said.
According to local media, Chapman and his Hong Kong wife settled in the city after marrying, where they ran a coffee shop together.
The Brit is believed to be originally from London and graduated from Loughborough University in 2011 before moving to Hing Kong.