Oil trader admits molesting woman at nightclub after industry event
Lydia LamSINGAPORE: After meeting a fellow oil trader at an industry event, a man tried to pour alcohol into her mouth at a nightclub.
Despite the woman's rejection, the man later slapped her buttocks twice.
German national Arrica Frank, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of outraging the 24-year-old Singaporean victim's modesty on Wednesday (May 29).
A second similar charge will be taken into consideration for sentencing.
The court heard that Arrica was introduced to the victim at an industry event at Synthesis Suntec for oil traders on the night of Apr 27 last year.
They shook hands and shared brief introductions, but had no further interactions at the event itself, the court heard.
Arrica drank alcohol and later joined other peers in continuing their social night at Avenue Lounge, a nightclub. The victim also went to the club separately at about 1am the next morning.
At about 1.15am, Arrica placed his arm around the victim and attempted to pour alcohol from a bottle into her mouth.
The victim rejected him.
At about 2.30am, while the victim was speaking to someone else at the nightclub, Arrica walked to where the woman was standing with her back to him.
He slapped her buttocks over her pants without her consent, on two occasions.
The victim felt uncomfortable and violated. Arrica continued trying to make advances towards her, and she moved away from him and went behind her friends to prevent Arrica from getting closer to her.
Arrica did not admit to committing the offence in a statement to the police in May 2023. He also denied it again in a second statement taken in October 2023.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Suriya Prakash is seeking a one-week jail term for Arrica. He said Arrica made a conscious decision to walk to the victim and remain near her before molesting her.
The offence was also committed in a nightclub, where the premises are often dimly lit and detection is difficult, he said.
There was an increase in molestation at nightspots, with 106 outrage of modesty cases reported at such places between January 2023 and September 2023 compared with 77 in the same period in 2022.
Arrica is represented by Mr Yusfiyanto Yatiman and Ms Stephania Wong from Rajah & Tann.
The defence lawyers were given time to amend their mitigation plea, after some discussions with the prosecutor.
Arrica will return to court for mitigation and sentencing in July.
The penalties for outrage of modesty are a maximum three years' jail, a fine, caning, or any combination of these punishments