Singaram Paliyanepan, 61, followed a domestic worker in a lift and molested her (Representational)
Singapore:
An Indian-origin man was sentenced to 10 months in jail after pleading guilty to using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman and voluntarily causing hurt to another person with a dangerous weapon.
According to a news report, 61-year-old Singaram Paliyanaipan followed a domestic worker into the lift, where he molested the woman, leaving her trapped for about 90 seconds.
About a month later, when he was out on bail, Singaram punched a man three times at a bicycle shop with a metal chain tied to his fist. Four other similar charges were also considered by the court during sentencing.
Court documents revealed that on September 28, 2022, the housekeeper was buying food when Singaram offered her money to buy drinks for himself. At first he rejected the offer but later when he insisted he accepted the money.
After taking the food, she proceeded to go back to her employer’s residence, with Singaram following her. The two reached the lift of the housing block and Singaram pressed the button for level 17, but when the woman tried to press the button for level five, she stopped him.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordi K said that after the lift started running, Singaram started molesting the employee. The lift reached level 17 and Singaram stood near the lift door and asked the victim to follow him.
When she refused, he went back to the elevator and chose the seventh floor. As the lift moved, he continued molesting the domestic help. K said, Singaram stayed with the victim in the lift for about one minute and 28 seconds and all his actions were captured in the CCTV camera of the lift.
Singaram was arrested on 28 September and released on bail the next day.
About a month later, on October 28, Yeoh Su Kai was at his friend Hu Jianpeng’s bicycle shop when Singaram asked the shop owner about problems he was experiencing with the personal mobility device he had purchased.
An altercation ensued between the two after which Singaram took out a metal chain from his personal mobility device, wrapped it around his right fist and punched Yeoh three times.
Seeking a jail term of nine to 11 months for Singaram, K argued that even though the degree of sexual abuse was less, there was still an attempt to touch the domestic maid’s chest.
DPP K also addressed the attack on Mr Yeoh, highlighting that the metal chain used was serious, as were the injuries to the victim’s head.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
