Cyclist preys on women in short skirts climbing stairs of Tampines bridge .
HE WAS often seen hanging around a bus stop in Tampines, as if he was waiting for a bus or a friend.
But he was perched on a bicycle and didn't seem too concerned every time a bus pulled up.
The man would spring into action only when a woman in a short skirt climbed the stairs to the overhead bridge nearby.
That was his cue to cycle slowly along the walkway next to the stairs, slyly casting glances upwards to try to catch an "upskirt" view of the woman climbing the stairs.
The pervert would then return to his "resting spot" and wait for his next victim to show.
When The New Paper observed him at the bus stop opposite Block 245 on Tampines Avenue 4 for more than two hours on 24Sep, he did this at least12 times.
Dressed in T-shirt and jeans, the tanned man, who appeared to be in his 30s, showed up around 7.45am and stayed till 10am.
The next day, The New Paper observed him for around three hours and the same routine was repeated.
As most commuters were in a hurry on their way to work at that time, the man's behaviour may have largely gone unnoticed.
But one observant woman became suspicious and tipped off The New Paper.
Said the 33-year-old woman, who wanted to be known only as Jessica: "I noticed that this guy is always waiting on his bicycle to sneak a look up the skirts of unsuspecting women."
After noticing him on a few occasions, Jessica, who lives in the area, decided to pay closer attention to what he was doing.
And she felt she was right in her suspicions that he was preying on women wearing short skirts.
Jessica isn't sure how long the man has been doing this, but said she began noticing hima few weeks ago.
Feared confronting man
Another resident said he saw the man loitering at the bus stop at least a month ago.
Said Mr Rusman Mohd, 32, in Malay: "I noticed he would always look up as he nears the bottom of the overhead bridge.
"He would do it only when women wearing short skirts go up the stairs."
The technical supervisor said he was not sure if the man had recording devices mounted on his bicycle.
"I told my sisters that when they use the overhead bridge, they should climb the stairs on the side closer to the road. Or just wear pants."
Mr Rusman said he decided not to confront the cyclist because he feared the man could turn violent.
Last Monday, when The New Paper observed him again, the man arrived earlier, at 6.15am,and he was riding a different bicycle.
On some days he would not show up at all. And it was not easy to spot him at first as there were many cyclists there.
Some had locked their bicycles against metal posts along the sheltered walkway before boarding buses, while others were passing by.
During the morning rush hour, many commuters alight at the bus stop before using the overhead bridge to get to Tampines MRT station or the bus interchange on the opposite side of the road.
The overhead bridge does not have gaps between every step.
The man would scrutinise each woman who walked past, but tailed only women in short skirts.
Upset
One of them, a secretary in her 20s, was upset when told of the man's actions by The New Paper.
Said the woman, who gave her name only as Sharon: "There are panels to prevent those on the overhead bridge from looking into the nearby flats.
"Little did I know that below the overhead bridge, somebody was happily invading my privacy and getting a free show. He needs to be scolded to scare him off."
Sharon said she liked wearing skirts because they were comfortable, especially on hot and humid days.
People waiting at the bus stop said they did not know the man.
The New Paper tried approaching him on Monday, but he quickly cycled off before we could talk to him.
Two lawyers said the man would be outraging a woman's modesty if he had been recording or photographing the women.
But they have different opinions on whether merely watching made the man liable to an offence.
Lawyer N Kanagavijayan does not think the man can be prosecuted for that under the law.
"If he doesn't record, then he has not invaded any woman's privacy. Those women who realise they are being watched should cover up to prevent the man from continuing his habit," he said.
Lawyer S Balamurugan, however, disagreed, saying that even by just watching, the man could be punished under the law.
He said that under section 509 of the penal code, the daily "upskirt viewing" can be seen as intruding into a woman's privacy.
If found guilty, the man could be jailed for up to a year, or fined, or both.
HE WAS often seen hanging around a bus stop in Tampines, as if he was waiting for a bus or a friend.
But he was perched on a bicycle and didn't seem too concerned every time a bus pulled up.
The man would spring into action only when a woman in a short skirt climbed the stairs to the overhead bridge nearby.
That was his cue to cycle slowly along the walkway next to the stairs, slyly casting glances upwards to try to catch an "upskirt" view of the woman climbing the stairs.
The pervert would then return to his "resting spot" and wait for his next victim to show.
When The New Paper observed him at the bus stop opposite Block 245 on Tampines Avenue 4 for more than two hours on 24Sep, he did this at least12 times.
Dressed in T-shirt and jeans, the tanned man, who appeared to be in his 30s, showed up around 7.45am and stayed till 10am.
The next day, The New Paper observed him for around three hours and the same routine was repeated.
As most commuters were in a hurry on their way to work at that time, the man's behaviour may have largely gone unnoticed.
But one observant woman became suspicious and tipped off The New Paper.
Said the 33-year-old woman, who wanted to be known only as Jessica: "I noticed that this guy is always waiting on his bicycle to sneak a look up the skirts of unsuspecting women."
After noticing him on a few occasions, Jessica, who lives in the area, decided to pay closer attention to what he was doing.
And she felt she was right in her suspicions that he was preying on women wearing short skirts.
Jessica isn't sure how long the man has been doing this, but said she began noticing hima few weeks ago.
Feared confronting man
Another resident said he saw the man loitering at the bus stop at least a month ago.
Said Mr Rusman Mohd, 32, in Malay: "I noticed he would always look up as he nears the bottom of the overhead bridge.
"He would do it only when women wearing short skirts go up the stairs."
The technical supervisor said he was not sure if the man had recording devices mounted on his bicycle.
"I told my sisters that when they use the overhead bridge, they should climb the stairs on the side closer to the road. Or just wear pants."
Mr Rusman said he decided not to confront the cyclist because he feared the man could turn violent.
Last Monday, when The New Paper observed him again, the man arrived earlier, at 6.15am,and he was riding a different bicycle.
On some days he would not show up at all. And it was not easy to spot him at first as there were many cyclists there.
Some had locked their bicycles against metal posts along the sheltered walkway before boarding buses, while others were passing by.
During the morning rush hour, many commuters alight at the bus stop before using the overhead bridge to get to Tampines MRT station or the bus interchange on the opposite side of the road.
The overhead bridge does not have gaps between every step.
The man would scrutinise each woman who walked past, but tailed only women in short skirts.
Upset
One of them, a secretary in her 20s, was upset when told of the man's actions by The New Paper.
Said the woman, who gave her name only as Sharon: "There are panels to prevent those on the overhead bridge from looking into the nearby flats.
"Little did I know that below the overhead bridge, somebody was happily invading my privacy and getting a free show. He needs to be scolded to scare him off."
Sharon said she liked wearing skirts because they were comfortable, especially on hot and humid days.
People waiting at the bus stop said they did not know the man.
The New Paper tried approaching him on Monday, but he quickly cycled off before we could talk to him.
Two lawyers said the man would be outraging a woman's modesty if he had been recording or photographing the women.
But they have different opinions on whether merely watching made the man liable to an offence.
Lawyer N Kanagavijayan does not think the man can be prosecuted for that under the law.
"If he doesn't record, then he has not invaded any woman's privacy. Those women who realise they are being watched should cover up to prevent the man from continuing his habit," he said.
Lawyer S Balamurugan, however, disagreed, saying that even by just watching, the man could be punished under the law.
He said that under section 509 of the penal code, the daily "upskirt viewing" can be seen as intruding into a woman's privacy.
If found guilty, the man could be jailed for up to a year, or fined, or both.
