A 20 year old Cambodian man has been sentenced to three months
jail for outraging the modesty of a woman at a Clarke Quay
nightspot.
Chhuon Ratana who was pursuing a Diploma in Management at the
Marketing Insitute of Singapore committed the offence at the Arena
Club on the 11th of May last year.
Chhuon originally faced two molest charges involving different
women.
He pleaded guilty to one of them while the other charge was
taken into consideration.
The court heard, Chhuon had slipped his hand into the woman's
top and groped her.
Club bouncers arrived at the scene shortly after the incident
and detained Chhuon until the police arrived.
Chhuon had earlier pleaded for leniency and submitted an appeal
for a conditional discharge.
His lawyer, Chia Boon Teck said such a discharge would allow his
client to be sent back to Cambodia to face punishment according to
Cambodian customs and practices
In his mitigation, Mr Chia added that his client was highly
intoxicated with alcohol when he molested the woman.
As a form of compensation, Chhuon gave her $8000 and she
accepted the money.
He had also apologised to the woman in writing for the anger and
humiliation he caused her.
However, District Judge Jill Tan, rejected the appeal for
conditional discharge.
She said drunkenness cannot be used as a mitigating factor.
Chhuon has to bear responsibility for his own actions and he
voluntarily consumed alcohol.
He could have been jailed up to two years, fined and caned.
--938Live
