A 25-year-old man was recently sentenced to seven years and nine months’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane for raping a woman whom he had confessed his long-standing feelings for. The incident took place when the two met at the man’s home to discuss their mutual profession of hairdressing.
The man cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim.
According to Channel News Asia, the man and the victim were former schoolmates and belonged to the same group of friends, which included the man’s then-girlfriend. Both individuals pursued careers as hairdressers after graduating from a tertiary education institution.
WHAT HAPPENED
On November 24, 2021, the man, who had fathered a child with his girlfriend from school, invited the victim to meet him and his one-year-old daughter.
Initially declining due to prior commitments, the victim agreed to meet after the man assured her that it would not cause any issues with his girlfriend. The meeting was arranged at the friend’s flat where the man was residing.
Once the victim arrived, they engaged in a conversation about their profession before extending it to the man’s room. It was during this discussion that the man confessed his feelings for the victim, expressing his regret for being in a relationship already.
The victim, taken aback, simply responded with “Oh, ok.” as she was surprise, according to the report.
Following a brief silence, the man forcefully kissed the victim, disregarding her requests to stop due to his existing relationship and child. The man then proceeded to rape the victim.
Distraught, the victim lodged a police report.
SENTENCING
During the sentencing hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Selene Yap pushed for a minimum of eight years’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane. Yap emphasized that the absence of protection during the rape significantly increased the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The victim, who trusted the offender as a friend, pleaded with him to cease his actions, but he ignored her pleas.
In defense, the man’s lawyer, Wasiur Rehman, sought a reduced sentence of six to seven years’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane. Rehman stated that his client was “caught up in the moment” and driven by intense emotions stemming from his confession. The lawyer emphasized that the man expressed regret and wished to rebuild his life with his family.
Rejecting the mitigating factors presented by the defense, Justice S Mohan acknowledged the man’s early guilty plea and remorse.
However, he ruled that these did not negate the gravity of the offense. Regardless, he also stated that there was no supporting evidence for the defense’s arguments regarding the emotional burden on the offender’s mother.
The convicted man’s rape of a woman whom he had confessed his feelings for led to his sentencing of seven years and nine months’ imprisonment, along with six strokes of the cane.
The court rejected mitigating factors presented by the defense, highlighting the severity of the crime.
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