S'porean allegedly raped by friend while on
holiday in the UK
'I just wanted to get
out'
Report by RONALD LOH
It was the last day of her 18-day holiday in the UK and she
needed a place to stay for the night.
When a friend offered his hostel room, she was uncomfortable as
they would have to share a bed.
But because she wanted to save money, she
relented.
It turned out to be a decision the Singaporean
would regret.
The night last December, her junior college friend
of five years allegedly raped her.
Even though Nicole (not her real name) had filed a
report with Singapore and UK police, she said neither has taken any
action.
She said Singapore police have told her they are
unable to act against the man because the incident did not happen
here.
She is awaiting a response from the UK police.
Nicole said she travelled to the UK for a vacation
with her boyfriend last December.
But on the last day of the trip, Nicole was on her
own as her boyfriend left for a family trip.
So, she ended up bunking with her friend - believed
to be a Singapore permanent resident studying in a UK university -
in his hostel room.
"At first I told him I would sleep on the floor
because there was only one bed in his room," she said.
"But he insisted that we share the bed, that I
would sleep under the covers and he on top of it."
Nicole said the two chatted while lying in bed
until she dozed off. But she was awakened when he allegedly started
touching her below her waist area.
PANIC ATTACK
"I was shocked. I panicked. I didn't know what to do. I thought
by stirring and pretending that I had woken up, he would stop," she
said.
Despite attempts to push him away, she said, his
actions only got worse.
She claimed she also suffered a panic attack and
couldn't react.
He then allegedly raped her.
As her flight home was early the next morning, she
said she did not have time to make a police report in the UK.
"All I wanted to do was to get out of there before
he woke up. I was afraid he would do something to me again," she
said.
"Plus, I was still in shock."
She made a report with the Singapore police after
she got back.
A Singapore police spokesman confirmed a report was
made.
Nicole said she mustered enough courage to tell her
parents about the alleged incident only in the first week of
March.
"I didn't know how they were going to react. But my
father said he would pay for my plane ticket back to UK." she
said.
Nicole said she was told by police there that it
was up to the inspector and crown prosecution to decide if any
action would be taken.
A spokesman for the London Metropolitan Police
confirmed that a report was made.
She added that a 21-year-old man allegedly
connected to the case voluntarily attended an interview with the
police on March 31.
He was not arrested. Specialist officers from
the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are also
investigating.
Meanwhile, it has been six months of waiting and
anguish for Nicole, who is considering counselling.
"I don't know if I'll be okay. I just hope to get
recourse for what happened and for this to end." she said.
But that may be a problem because of the delay in
making the police report in the UK.
Speaking to The New Paper yesterday, lawyer Luke
Lee said Nicole should have done so immediately after the
incident.
The former policeman, who was an investigator
specialising in rape between 1982 and 1989, said: "It was crucial
that she made the report as soon as possible so that forensic
evidence could have been collected and DNA samples obtained."
Because of the time lapse, such evidence could been
destroyed.
He added that the police here cannot take action
against the alleged rapist because there is no extra territorial
jurisdiction for rape cases outside Singapore. This means the case
cannot be investigated by the authorities here.
There is, however, extra territorial jurisdiction
for cases such as corruption, child sex and drug consumption.
That why Nicole had to fly back to the UK to file
the report.
Mr Lee said: "She can, however, file a civil suit
in Singapore against the man for recovery of damages."
- Additional reporting Shaffiq Alkhatib
Most rape victims
know
their
attackers
The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) said of
the 136 calls and e-mails it got from victims of sexual crimes last
year, the victims knew their attackers in 120 cases.
Ms Jolene Tan, Aware's senior manager for
programmes and communications, said: "Perpetrators of sexual
assaults could be friends, co-workers, boyfriends, husbands or
business associates.
"While perpetrators may sexually assault women they
know for a range of reasons, the fundamental problem is that they
do not respect women's freedom over their bodies, and as a society
we are too willing to excuse or justify their behaviour."
Said Dr Brian Yeo, 53, a consulting psychiatrist at
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre who has been practising for about 20
years:
"The fact that the victim might be familiar with
the perpetrator means that they might let their guard down, open up
to them or let them into their personal space, without realising
their intentions."
Reported rape cases have fallen in recent years.
There were 150 cases in 2011, 133 in 2012, and 121 last year.
Dr Yeo said; "Rape has always been an issue of
power more than sex."
While there is the occasional opportunistic case,
Dr Yeo said it is the false sense of power and perceived
superiority the perpetrator has over the victim that leads him or
her to commit the crime. - LIM MIN ZHANG
IF YOU'RE IN TROUBLE
OVERSEAS
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) says: "Singaporean victims
should first report the incident to the country's police.
"Also contact the nearest Singapore Mission. If
there is no Mission, call the 24-hour MFA duty office at +65
6379-8800/885.
Before travelling, register with the Ministry
online at https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg"
News, The New Paper, Thursday, June 12 2014, Pg 2-3
