TCM masseur found guilty of molesting 28-year-old female customer in private room
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- Yin Siyuan worked at Tang Shan TCM & Massage in 2019
- He took a 28-year-old returning customer to a private room and molested her there
- He also asked her if she was married and if she wanted to "unblock a duct" in her breast
- The victim testified that she now dislikes being touched and no longer goes for massages
BY
LOUISA TANG
Published October 11, 2022Updated October 11, 2022
SINGAPORE — Satisfied with her first massage at a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) outlet at City Square Mall, a 28-year-old woman returned to the same masseur for a second round.
But this time, her 40-year-old masseur, Yin Siyuan, took her to a private area and molested her there, leaving her traumatised by the incident.
On Tuesday (Oct 11), Yin was found guilty of a single charge of outrage of modesty following a trial at the State Courts.
The China national has not been sentenced yet and will return to court next month. His victim cannot be named due to a court order to protect her identity.
WHAT HAPPENED
The victim previously testified that she went to Tang Shan TCM & Massage with her mother in late October 2019.READ ALSO
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The court heard that this was the first time she had ever gone for a TCM massage.
At the time, both women received massages on their necks and shoulders in an open area that was visible to shoppers at the mall.
Following this positive massage experience, the victim booked another session with her masseur, Yin, for the following week. Her mother also made another appointment.
Both returned for their second session on Nov 3, 2019.
The victim walked straight into the public open area as she wanted the same type of massage, but was re-directed by Yin to a private room instead.
She testified that she did not question this decision because she was unfamiliar with how TCM shops operated.
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The court heard that Yin began massaging her, and also spent a long time fiddling with her bra strap.
She unclasped her bra over her blouse as she thought he was finding it difficult to do so, she told the court.
Yin then told her to turn over and gave her a towel to cover her chest, before massaging her shoulders and collarbone area.
ASKED IF SHE WAS MARRIED
The victim testified that Yin suddenly asked her if she was married, then told her there was a "blocked duct" in her left breast. He also asked if she wanted to "unblock" it.After she told him she did not want to, he continued the massage before eventually molesting her under her blouse.
Confused about what was happening, she told Yin that what he was doing was “painful” so he would move his hands away. She remained silent for the rest of the massage.
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When the massage was over, her mother paid and they left the shop. It was only then that the victim told her mother what happened in the private room.
She also sent text messages to her boyfriend and called her sister. She was crying at this point, she told the court.
Her brother-in-law called the police on her behalf.
While testifying in court, she broke down when describing the impact of the incident on her. She disliked being touched, no longer wanted to go for massages, and became averse to people who reminded her of Yin.
Her mother also testified that on a trip to Europe a few days later, she turned hysterical when her mother tapped her on the shoulder.
During the trial, Yin — who did not have a lawyer — denied touching the victim’s chest area and asking her inappropriate questions. He reiterated on Tuesday that he had no intention to molest her.
The prosecution said in their written submissions that Yin was "evasive" when questioned on the witness stand and gave contradictory evidence.
For example, he initially claimed that he did not touch her chest area during the massage, but later admitted in the trial that he massaged her at her armpits and below her collarbone.
Prosecutors sought 12 to 14 months’ jail for Yin, as well as three strokes of the cane.
They cited several aggravating factors that included abuse of trust, the deception involved and the harm he caused to the victim.
Yin did not call for any reduction to the sentence sought by the prosecution but said he would “definitely” file an appeal. District Judge Christopher Goh advised him to get a lawyer for mitigation purposes.
He could be jailed up to two years, fined, caned, or punished with any combination of the three.
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