2.5 years’ jail, caning for man who trapped and molested tourist in stairwell at Golden Mile Complex
By LOUISA TANG
Published APRIL 28, 2021
Updated APRIL 28, 2021
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Tan Ee Hong pleaded guilty in a district court to one count of aggravated outrage of modesty.
The victim could speak only simple English
Tan Ee Hong dragged her to a stairwell and molested her
He had gone out drinking with his friends earlier, his lawyer said
SINGAPORE — He first coaxed her to visit his shop at Golden Mile Complex, then became unhappy when she refused to go in.
Tan Ee Hong then dragged the Thai tourist into a nearby stairwell, trapped her in a corner and molested her.
She shouted for help and tried to escape, but he managed to pull her back. In the ensuing struggle, she nearly fell through the staircase railings to the floor below.
His actions were captured on closed-circuit television cameras.
Tan, a 25-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced on Wednesday (April 28) to two-and-a-half years’ jail and three strokes of the cane.
He pleaded guilty in a district court to one count of aggravated outrage of modesty. One other such charge and another of using criminal force on the victim were taken into consideration for sentencing.
His victim, now aged 27, cannot be named due to a court gag order to protect her identity.
The court heard that she spoke only simple English and found it difficult to communicate in Singapore.
WHAT HAPPENED
On the morning of Nov 23, 2019, the victim and some friends went to Golden Mile Complex to eat after a late night out.
They left at about 7.30am. The victim went to take a call from her mother and lost sight of her friends after hanging up.
That was when Tan — who worked as a retail assistant at a clothing store there — saw her.
Thinking he would befriend her as she looked pretty, he approached her and asked if she would like to see his shop upstairs.
She thought the “shop” was a karaoke lounge and that her friends might be there, so she agreed.
However, when they got there, she realised her mistake and immediately walked away.
Tan became unhappy and followed her, then blocked her from taking the lift back down.
GOOD SAMARITANS CAME TO HER RESCUE
When the lift arrived, he grabbed her arm and a struggle ensued.
Tan managed to push the tourist into a stairwell, then trapped her in a corner and molested her.
She almost broke free but Tan dragged her back till she nearly fell through the staircase railings.
He straddled her and kissed her forehead.
At this point, a married couple on their way to a meditation class noticed the victim’s belongings strewn around the lift lobby.
Upon hearing the sound of someone crying coming from the stairwell, the husband went in and found Tan straddling the victim while reeking of alcohol.
The man tried to help her but Tan continued to hold onto the victim, claiming that he was trying to help her.
The Good Samaritan was not convinced and called the police.
TAN QUIT DRINKING: LAWYER
Seeking the sentence imposed, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chong Kee En told the court that the victim was traumatised by the assault.
“The accused and all other would-be offenders need to learn the lesson that women have an inalienable right to say no,” he said.
In mitigation, Tan’s lawyer SS Dhillon said that his client’s excessive alcohol drinking with his friends earlier that night had impaired his judgment and that he “truly wanted to assist the victim who had difficulty in her gait when he first saw her”.
Tan has since quit drinking. “It was a wake up call for him,” the lawyer added.
For committing outrage of modesty by wrongful restraint, Tan could have been jailed for at least two years and up to 10 years, and caned.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...4qVKOI8vgOm5cXIf-KQwhemzJ8MKs_JKL_hpzXaqcvQRs
By LOUISA TANG
Published APRIL 28, 2021
Updated APRIL 28, 2021
Google Map
Tan Ee Hong pleaded guilty in a district court to one count of aggravated outrage of modesty.
The victim could speak only simple English
Tan Ee Hong dragged her to a stairwell and molested her
He had gone out drinking with his friends earlier, his lawyer said
SINGAPORE — He first coaxed her to visit his shop at Golden Mile Complex, then became unhappy when she refused to go in.
Tan Ee Hong then dragged the Thai tourist into a nearby stairwell, trapped her in a corner and molested her.
She shouted for help and tried to escape, but he managed to pull her back. In the ensuing struggle, she nearly fell through the staircase railings to the floor below.
His actions were captured on closed-circuit television cameras.
Tan, a 25-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced on Wednesday (April 28) to two-and-a-half years’ jail and three strokes of the cane.
He pleaded guilty in a district court to one count of aggravated outrage of modesty. One other such charge and another of using criminal force on the victim were taken into consideration for sentencing.
His victim, now aged 27, cannot be named due to a court gag order to protect her identity.
The court heard that she spoke only simple English and found it difficult to communicate in Singapore.
WHAT HAPPENED
On the morning of Nov 23, 2019, the victim and some friends went to Golden Mile Complex to eat after a late night out.
They left at about 7.30am. The victim went to take a call from her mother and lost sight of her friends after hanging up.
That was when Tan — who worked as a retail assistant at a clothing store there — saw her.
Thinking he would befriend her as she looked pretty, he approached her and asked if she would like to see his shop upstairs.
She thought the “shop” was a karaoke lounge and that her friends might be there, so she agreed.
However, when they got there, she realised her mistake and immediately walked away.
Tan became unhappy and followed her, then blocked her from taking the lift back down.
GOOD SAMARITANS CAME TO HER RESCUE
When the lift arrived, he grabbed her arm and a struggle ensued.
Tan managed to push the tourist into a stairwell, then trapped her in a corner and molested her.
She almost broke free but Tan dragged her back till she nearly fell through the staircase railings.
He straddled her and kissed her forehead.
At this point, a married couple on their way to a meditation class noticed the victim’s belongings strewn around the lift lobby.
Upon hearing the sound of someone crying coming from the stairwell, the husband went in and found Tan straddling the victim while reeking of alcohol.
The man tried to help her but Tan continued to hold onto the victim, claiming that he was trying to help her.
The Good Samaritan was not convinced and called the police.
TAN QUIT DRINKING: LAWYER
Seeking the sentence imposed, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chong Kee En told the court that the victim was traumatised by the assault.
“The accused and all other would-be offenders need to learn the lesson that women have an inalienable right to say no,” he said.
In mitigation, Tan’s lawyer SS Dhillon said that his client’s excessive alcohol drinking with his friends earlier that night had impaired his judgment and that he “truly wanted to assist the victim who had difficulty in her gait when he first saw her”.
Tan has since quit drinking. “It was a wake up call for him,” the lawyer added.
For committing outrage of modesty by wrongful restraint, Tan could have been jailed for at least two years and up to 10 years, and caned.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...4qVKOI8vgOm5cXIf-KQwhemzJ8MKs_JKL_hpzXaqcvQRs
