SINGAPORE: A 39-year-old man who attempted to rape his intoxicated friend, 29, at his home after a night out with friends was handed four years and six months’ jail and three strokes of the cane on Thursday (Jan 18).
He also molested the victim in a taxi on the way to his apartment, leaving the two others in the group of friends – his girlfriend and the victim’s boyfriend – waiting for a separate cab.
He pleaded guilty to attempted rape on Monday. Two charges for molestation were taken into consideration.
He and the others involved in the case cannot be named due to a gag order protecting the victim’s identity.
WHAT HAPPENED
The court heard on Monday that the man, the victim and their respective partners went for drinks at a bar on Apr 1, 2019. The man and victim were drunk, court documents stated.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Emily Koh said that the four were friends in the Philippines before they came to work in Singapore.
The four left the bar at around 1am and took a Grab ride together.
Before the car drove off, however, the victim vomited in the vehicle. This led the four of them to get out of the car.
The court heard that while their partners were looking for another taxi, the man and the victim boarded the first one that arrived and headed to his home without their partners, even though his girlfriend was living in his apartment.
On the way to his home, the man pulled the victim towards him and molested her. She was “in and out of consciousness” at the time, the prosecutor said.
When they arrived at his home, the man helped the victim lie down on a bed, where she fell asleep.
He groped the victim, later deciding to take off their clothes and to rape her.
“The victim felt weak when she woke up and tried to turn away from the accused,” the prosecutor said.