Singaporean woman acquitted of sex assault on a minor due to ‘men-only’ law
Zunika Ahmad who is biologically a female but has passed herself as a man since her youth, pleaded guilty last year to six counts of sexually assaulting the 13-year-old
A Singapore woman who lives as a man has been acquitted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl because the judge said the law on which the charges were based relates only to men with a penis.
Zunika Ahmad, 40, who is biologically a female but has passed herself as a man since her youth, pleaded guilty last year to six counts of sexually assaulting the minor using a sex toy and her fingers.
But in a landmark ruling on Tuesday, high court judge Kan Ting Chiu threw out the guilty plea and acquitted Zunika, saying the Penal Code provision under which she was charged applies only to males.
The ruling sparked strong reaction among women’s and gay rights activists.
No matter the gender [of the assailant] or whether they have a particular body part does not make it any less traumatising for the victim
“No matter the gender [of the assailant] or whether they have a particular body part does not make it any less traumatising for the victim,” said Jolene Tan, a senior manager at the Association of Women for Action and Research, which also runs a care centre for victims of sexual assault.
