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Jail term tripled for man who molested girl
By Ashley Chia, TODAY | Posted: 24 August 2012 0604 hrs
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
