Singapore jails man for 13 months for molesting domestic helper while she was asleep

Upon waking up and seeing the man touching her inappropriately, the woman immediately pushed him away and kicked him in the stomach

While meting out the sentence, District Judge Elton Tan said that the victim had been in a vulnerable position as she was sleeping.

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Exterior of Singapore’s state courts. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:19pm, 4 Sep 2023Updated: 5:17am, 5 Sep 2023

Seeing his domestic helper napping on the sofa, a 54-year-old man decided to molest her while she was in a defenceless position but was foiled when his victim woke up and caught him in the act of undoing her blouse.

Shocked at being found out, the man then begged his victim for forgiveness. To this, the domestic helper forgave him, though also stating that she would not forget what happened.

Several months later, the man’s wife and daughter found out when the incident came to light during an argument over the helper’s work performance. He then made a police report about what he had done.

Singapore’s State Courts on Monday, the man was sentenced to 13 months’ jail after pleading guilty to one charge of using criminal force with intent to outrage modesty in an earlier hearing. The names of everyone involved cannot be published due to a gag order imposed by the court to protect the victim.

The offence was also aggravated because it was done in the sanctity of her home, where she would have expected to feel secure

District Judge Elton Tan

While meting out the sentence, District Judge Elton Tan said that the victim had been in a vulnerable position as she was sleeping.

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