Erugula Eswara Reddy, a 25-year-old Indian national, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to outraging the modesty of a 21-year-old university student.
On August 20, 2022, the victim went out for a meal and drinks with her friends before proceeding to a restaurant on Turf Club Road for an exchange student event. As the night progressed and she consumed more alcohol, she began to feel ill and vomited.
WHAT HAPPENED
The victim, a foreigner studying at a Singapore university, cannot be named due to a court order protecting her identity. After feeling intoxicated, the young woman found herself alone at the event and sent a text message to a friend, asking for his whereabouts. Reddy, who was also attending the event & he was in singapore on a student pass, he noticed the victim’s vulnerability and approached her, making her uncomfortable. She then said that she did not need any help and at about 1.40am, messaged her friend about Reddy, the report added.
Ignoring her plea, Reddy carried the victim away from the event location. Court documents do not specify whether anyone attempted to intervene. He took her phone and led her to an empty field nearby, where he proceeded to commit the offense.
Reddy removed the victim’s clothes, touched her inappropriately, and disregarded her requests to stop. He then undressed himself.
During this time, the victim’s friend, concerned about the messages he had received, searched for her based on her last known location. He eventually found Reddy and the victim, who was crying and apologizing. The friend immediately called the police and provided assistance to the traumatized victim.
According to the report, reddy confiscated the victim’s phone and proceeded to approach an adjacent vacant field. There, he positioned the victim on the ground and positioned himself above her.
Even though the victim implored Reddy to halt and maintain distance, he disregarded her pleas, according to DPP Lu.
Eventually, Reddy consented to give back the victim’s mobile phone momentarily. During that brief period, she messaged a friend, urgently seeking assistance after experiencing the assault. Shortly thereafter, Reddy reclaimed possession of the phone.
Subsequently, he proceeded to kiss the victim and forcibly removed her clothing from the waist downwards, followed by touching her intimate areas. Despite her repeated appeals for him to cease, he continued his actions. Ignoring her pleas to stop, he then removed his clothes.
Meanwhile, the recipient of the concerning messages grew worried and enlisted the help of some friends to locate the victim by using her last known location. Suddenly, he heard a scream and saw Reddy and the victim in an adjacent open field. Without hesitation, he and his friends hurried towards them.
Upon the arrival of her friend, the victim was visibly distraught and repeatedly asking sorry according to DPP.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the victim’s friends promptly contacted the police and assisted her in getting dressed.
Consequently, Reddy was apprehended and has been in custody ever since.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) John Lu described the incident as having a premeditated and planned nature. He argued that Reddy deliberately sought out the victim due to her vulnerable state and took advantage of her. DPP Lu requested a sentence of four years in jail and six strokes of the cane.
In his defense, Reddy’s lawyer, Mr. Wasiur Rehman, stated that his client was remorseful and had also been under the influence of alcohol during the incident. Mr. Rehman contended that Reddy displayed a low level of planning, suggesting a sentence of approximately 3.5 years’ imprisonment.
District Judge Ow Yong Tuck Leong agreed with the prosecution’s argument, acknowledging the trauma inflicted upon the victim. However, he commended Reddy for pleading guilty, sparing the victim from a trial.
Reddy faced a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and caning for the charge of outraging modesty using wrongful restraint. The verdict carries a minimum jail term of two years.
Reddy’s sentence has been backdated to August 21, 2022, the day of his arrest.
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