Molester jailed 10
months, rapist 5 1/2 years
By Zul Othman, TODAY
| Posted: 04 December 2008 1031
hrs
SINGAPORE: He went for a party with a friend in September last
year, and ended up molesting another guest - a 19-year-old girl
whom they had gotten drunk - while the friend raped her.
But then the 22-year-old student’s conscience kicked in, and he
implored his friend to stop. By then, however, it was too late in
the eyes of the law.
On Wednesday, the student sobbed in the dock as District Judge Jill
Tan found him guilty of molest and sentenced him to 10 months’ jail
and three strokes of the cane.
His friend, also 22 and married with two children, was convicted of
rape and given five-and-a-half years of jail time plus six strokes
of the cane. They cannot be named to protect the identity of the
victim.
In pronouncing sentence, DJ Tan said that while it was in the
student’s favour that he had stopped his friend, this did not
lessen his culpability “to such an extent as to warrant a sentence
substantially below the benchmark”.
She also noted how both had taken advantage of the victim’s
“drunkenness and inability to fend for herself”.
She added: “They were clearly complicit in what happened to her,
not least because each was not afraid to commit his offence in each
other’s presence.”
DJ Tan, however, gave the student a minor reprieve: He was allowed
out on S$6,000 bail so he could complete a school project, before
beginning his sentence on January 5.
According to court documents, both men had gone to the party and
played cards with the girl, who was a friend of the host.
After a few rounds of drinks, she passed out and slept in a
room.
At about 3am, the two entered the room. The male student began
kissing her and fondling her breasts, while his friend removed her
underwear and raped her. Though shocked, the girl was too drunk to
resist.
But then, the student had a change of heart and asked his friend to
stop. Both then left.
When she awoke later, the victim told her boyfriend of the incident
and was taken to Changi General Hospital for a check-up. A police
report was lodged.
The district judge on Wednesday said the fact that the duo had
perpetrated these offences on a helpless victim, meant their
punishments “must therefore carry sufficient retributive
weight”.
The man convicted of rape could have been jailed for 10 years with
a fine or caning, while the student could have been imprisoned up
to two years with caning for the molest charge.
After judgement was passed, the rapist was put in handcuffs and led
away, while his accomplice sobbed in the arms of his 68-year-old
mother. - TODAY/rose
