NEW DELHI: An Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 10 months in jail after pleading guilty to charges of assault and molestation. Singaram Palianeapan, 61, was found guilty of using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman and causing harm to another person with a dangerous weapon.
The incidents took place in Singapore, according to a news report.The first incident occurred when Singaram followed a domestic worker into a lift and molested her. He kept her trapped for nearly 90 seconds. A month later, while out on bail, he attacked a man at a bicycle shop using a metal chain wrapped around his fist.
The court also considered four other similar charges during the sentencing.
Court documents revealed that on September 28, 2022, Singaram offered the domestic worker money to buy herself a drink. She initially declined but eventually accepted when he insisted. As she was headed back to her employer’s residence, Singaram followed her into the lift. He prevented her from pressing the button for fifth floor and started molesting her once the lift started moving. The entire incident was captured on the lift’s CCTV camera.
After reaching level 17, Singaram asked the victim to follow him, but when she refused, he went back into the lift and selected the seventh floor. He continued to molest the domestic worker during the elevator ride. Singaram was in the lift with the victim for about a minute and 28 seconds. Singaram was arrested on September 28 and released on bail the next day.
On October 28, he confronted the owner of a bicycle shop over issues with a personal mobility device he had purchased. A dispute ensued, and Singaram attacked the man, Yeoh Su Kai, by punching him three times with a metal chain wrapped around his fist.
The injuries sustained by Mr. Yeoh were serious, particularly due to the weapon used. Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordy Kay argued for a jail term of between nine and 11 months for Singaram.
While acknowledging that the degree of sexual exploitation was low, Kay emphasized the attempt to touch the victim’s chest area. The severity of the assault on Mr. Yeoh was also highlighted, given the use of a metal chain as a weapon. Singaram’s actions have been condemned, and the court has handed down a jail sentence as a result.
The incidents took place in Singapore, according to a news report.The first incident occurred when Singaram followed a domestic worker into a lift and molested her. He kept her trapped for nearly 90 seconds. A month later, while out on bail, he attacked a man at a bicycle shop using a metal chain wrapped around his fist.
The court also considered four other similar charges during the sentencing.
Court documents revealed that on September 28, 2022, Singaram offered the domestic worker money to buy herself a drink. She initially declined but eventually accepted when he insisted. As she was headed back to her employer’s residence, Singaram followed her into the lift. He prevented her from pressing the button for fifth floor and started molesting her once the lift started moving. The entire incident was captured on the lift’s CCTV camera.
After reaching level 17, Singaram asked the victim to follow him, but when she refused, he went back into the lift and selected the seventh floor. He continued to molest the domestic worker during the elevator ride. Singaram was in the lift with the victim for about a minute and 28 seconds. Singaram was arrested on September 28 and released on bail the next day.
On October 28, he confronted the owner of a bicycle shop over issues with a personal mobility device he had purchased. A dispute ensued, and Singaram attacked the man, Yeoh Su Kai, by punching him three times with a metal chain wrapped around his fist.
The injuries sustained by Mr. Yeoh were serious, particularly due to the weapon used. Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordy Kay argued for a jail term of between nine and 11 months for Singaram.
While acknowledging that the degree of sexual exploitation was low, Kay emphasized the attempt to touch the victim’s chest area. The severity of the assault on Mr. Yeoh was also highlighted, given the use of a metal chain as a weapon. Singaram’s actions have been condemned, and the court has handed down a jail sentence as a result.