Tien Kiat Chong, a 26-year-old student at Singapore Management University (SMU), pleaded guilty earlier to a single charge of insulting women’s modesty, while another charge of possessing obscene films was taken into consideration during sentencing.
On Friday he was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail.
According to ST, the court heard on Friday that he intends to appeal against the sentence and was offered bail of $8,000.
Caught At Sengkang MRT Station
According to ST, On September 4, 2019, around 7.15 pm, Tien Kiat Chong noticed a woman wearing a denim skirt in front of him as he was he was travelling upwards on an escalator in Sengkang MRT station.
According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jun Chong, Tien placed his left foot on the step above, just below where the victim was standing, and put his phone with its camera facing up on his left knee to try to take an upskirt video.
When someone saw him, they informed the station staff. When questioned, Tien denied attempting to record the victim’s upskirt.
Tien checked his phone before handing it over when the station officials requested to check it. The witness and the station workers discovered an upskirt video in his phone that had been captured from behind a woman using an escalator.
Tien apologised profusely and begged them to put the incident behind them, explaining that he was still in school. He was handed over to the police despite his pleas, according to ST.
Back View
In his statement to the police, Tien denied taking any upskirt videos. He claimed he had wanted to record a video of the “woman’s face” but managed to capture only her “back view”.
The police later found 19 upskirt videos in his phone, taken between May 28 and Sept 4, 2019.
The Deputy Public Prosecutor said that 17 of the videos were recorded on escalators in public places, one was filmed in a train and another in a retail shop. DPP Ng said Tien was intruding on the privacy of the women, with the intent to insult their modesty.
Another 37 Videos Found At Home
“The accused would review the videos at home, or when he was alone,” he said, adding that 37 other obscene videos were found in Tien’s phone.
For insulting a woman’s modesty, Foo could have been jailed for up to one year, fined or both. Those who possess obscene films can be jailed for a maximum of 12 months and fined.
Two Year Suspension
In response to media query, an SMU spokesman said Tien has since been given a two-year suspension and sent for community service and mandatory counselling.
The spokesman said: “His re-admission to SMU after the suspension period is not automatic and will be subject to strict evaluation by the University.
“The disciplinary sanctions meted out by the university form part of the student’s formal educational record at SMU.”
Image from Straits Times
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