ST April 20, 2005
An illegal immigrant who dragged a screaming woman to an enclosed
rubbish area in Woodlands and raped her was yesterday handed a
severe sentence.
Justice V.K. Rajah jailed V. Murugesan, 28, for 21 years for
sbduction and rape, and ordered him to be given the maximum 24
strokes of the cane.
The judge rebuked the Indian national for showing absolute contempt
for all norms of civilised behaviour and acting as if he was
subject to the law of the jungle.
The sudacious and wanton manner in which the crimes were carried
out in the built-up Woodlands housing estate was both outrageous
and abhorrent, he added.
On March 5 last year, Murugesan and an accomplice abducted the
Malaysian victim and dragged her to the refuse area at block 715,
Woodlands Drive 70.
The woman's screams had alerted rsidents in the nearby flats, who
called the police. One young man interrupted the pair as they were
taking turns to attack the woman.
The two escaped, but were captured more than a fortnight
later.
The accomplice, Manikkam, 30, has already been sentenced to 14
years' jail and 10 strokes of the cane for his part in the crime,
including attempted rape.
The judge said Murugesan had "orchestrated the incident" and needed
to be punished severely both as retribution and to deter others who
might contemplate rape.
"Rape is one of the most heinous and vile crimes proscribed under
our laws. It is an abominable crime which leaves the victim with
permanent emotional scars," said Justice Rajah.
Rapist need to be punished not only for physical harm they inflict,
he said, but also for the lifelong trauma, debilitating emotional
distress and anguish they inflict on their victims.
"In the circumstance, draconian sentences are called for," said the
judge.
Murugesan was sentenced to 14 years and 14 stokes for rape, seven
years and seven strokes for abduction, and one month and three
strokes for illegal entry.
The sentence for illegal entry is to run concurrently, while the
rape and abduction sentences will run consecutively.
He was also fined $3,000 for having another person's identity
card.
Although semen found on the victim's underwear provided a positive
DNA match to Murugesan, he maintained his innocence to the
end.
"I was brought up with virtue," he told the judge yesterday.
"I was born in Tamil Nadu, which respects women as
goddesses."