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Man accused of posing as nurse to molest patient in hospital
05 Feb 2010
SOURCE: The Straits Times
A MAN allegedly gained access to a ward at Raffles Hospital while impersonating a female nurse.
At about 9.20am on Jan 28, Sim Siang Heng is said to have entered a room occupied by a 28-year-old flight attendant and touched her breasts.
The 40-year-old technical officer is also accused of entering another room of the same ward with intent to annoy a 31-year-old woman patient.
Sim, who has been remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric observation, was yesterday charged with trespassing into the two patients’ rooms at the hospital and one charge of molestation.
No plea was taken from Sim.
A statement from the hospital yesterday said investigation showed that he had allegedly slipped in by wearing a dress similar to that of the hospital’s nurses.
After the incident, the first patient was transferred to a room near the nurses’ station for closer observation. The hospital also arranged for a psychiatrist and counsellor to attend to her.
“Our patients’ security is important to us. This is the first time such an incident has occurred in the hospital,” it said.
The hospital in North Bridge Road has since put in extra security measures to control access to the wards, such as locking the side doors to the wards and placing a security officer outside.
The hospital regretted the incident and reassured patients of their safety and that steps have been taken to strengthen the security of its wards.
If convicted, Sim faces a jail term of up to two years or fine or caning or any combined sentence for outrage of modesty.
For trespass, he can be jailed for up to one year or fined up to $3,000 on each charge.
