In a disturbing incident, a 42-year-old man has been sentenced to two weeks’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to insulting the modesty of a 20-year-old student.
According to the report, the incident took place in January 2022 at the victim’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat. The identity of the victim and the location have been protected by a court order.
WHAT HAPPENED
The accused, Tan Chye Hin, a Singaporean citizen who was unemployed at the time, was living with his elderly parents. On the evening of the incident, Tan had been observing pigeons at Alexandra Food Market before deciding to head home. As he walked past the housing block where the victim lived, instead of continuing on his way, he took the elevator to the fourth floor.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, Tan noticed the student, who was wearing a pink T-shirt, engrossed in playing computer games near the open front door of her flat. Tan smiled and nodded towards her, but the student ignored him, assuming he was a guest at her neighbor’s house.
Undeterred, Tan moved closer to the front gate and continued to smile and stare at the student. Ignoring her discomfort, he unzipped his pants and exposed his private parts in an attempt to insult her modesty. Tan then proceeded to touch himself inappropriately while making direct eye contact with the victim.
Shocked by the explicit display, the student quickly closed the front door while her dog barked at Tan. He left the housing block and returned to his own home.
“The court heard that the student saw Tan shaking his genitals when she looked up. Feeling shocked, she stood up to shut the door, while her dog barked at Tan” the report added.
Two days later, the student made a police report, leading to Tan’s arrest. Police officers reviewed surveillance footage from the housing block, which showed Tan repeatedly using the elevator on the day of the incident.
During the court hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Heershan Kaur argued for a jail term of two to three weeks.
DPP Kaur highlighted that Tan’s history of schizophrenia should bear less weight, as there was no evidence to suggest a causal link between his mental illness and the offense.
According to a psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health, Tan was in control of himself and acting of his own accord at the time of the incident.
For the offense of insulting the modesty of a person by making a gesture, Tan faced a maximum sentence of one year in jail, a fine, or both.
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