SINGAPORE: A man who was due to be released from
prison next week had his jail term tripled to five months after a
successful appeal by the Public Prosecutor on
Thursday.
Indian national Vashist Davender Kumar had been
convicted of molesting a 15-year-old Australian girl and was
sentenced to six weeks' jail last month.
The victim was in Singapore to participate in a
sports competition, while 42-year-old Vashist, an engineer, was
here to attend a design conference. Both were guests at the
Parkroyal Hotel on Kitchener Road.
At the hotel's swimming pool on July 18, Vashist had approached the
victim, who was clad in a bikini, and asked if she wanted to
accompany him into the male changing room. When she refused,
Vashist moved forward and squeezed her breast. He then asked her
again to follow him into the male changing room.
The victim retreated to the female changing room and later reported
the incident to her teacher, who notified the authorities.
On Thursday, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Sanjna Rai argued that
the six-week jail term was too lenient. The District Judge had also
not given "sufficient regard" to aggravating factors, such as
Vashist's intrusion of the victim's private parts, added the
DPP.
In response, Mr Peter Fernando, Vashist's lawyer, said his client
was "very contrite, remorseful, embarrassed and ashamed". But Ms
Sanjna Rai said Vashist had exhibited ill-intent towards the victim
from the outset and had persisted in his advances, showing a clear
lack of remorse. - TODAY
