SINGAPORE: A Bangladeshi man is claiming trial to a
charge of paying a minor S$10 for sex in 2011, on the grounds that
he had confessed to the crime under threat.
Mohammad Easak Amir Uddin, 33, allegedly had sex
with the girl at a block in Hougang.
The girl cannot be named to protect her
identity.
Easak is represented by defence lawyer Hamidul Haq, who is taking
on the case free of charge.
Mr Haq told the court that Easak had denied having sex with the
minor in a statement that was recorded through an
English-Bengali-speaking interpreter on July 31 this year.
But during subsequent interrogation on August 2, Easak admitted to
having sex with the minor.
His lawyer argued that Easak's admission was the result of a threat
allegedly made by Senior Staff Sergeant Linda Chaw from the
Specialised Crime Branch.
Her role was to record Easak's statement, through an
English-Bengali-speaking interpreter.
Easak claimed that Ms Chaw had allegedly threatened to get her
supervisor to hit him, if he did not confess to the charge.
He also claimed that his interpreter, Mr Chakravarty, allegedly
told him that he would get a higher penalty if he kept denying he
had sex with the minor.
Both Ms Chaw and Mr Chakravarty, who appeared as witnesses in
court, refuted the claims.
Easak is among six Bangladeshi men charged on July 31 this year
with having paid sex with the girl.
Easak, a former cleaner who works in Hougang, is the only one to
claim trial.
The other five are set to be sentenced on October 12.
- CNA/fa