Indian National Sentenced to 7 Months in Jail for Sexual Assault in Singapore

Indian National Sentenced to Seven Months Jail for Molestation in Singapore

An Indian national, Erakkodan Abinraj, was sentenced to seven months’ jail in Singapore after pleading guilty to one count of molestation, with one count of housebreaking taken into consideration for his sentencing. The incident occurred when Abinraj climbed into his neighbor’s condominium unit and molested a 36-year-old woman who cannot be named due to a gag order.

The Molestation Incident

The victim was asleep in the master bedroom with her husband, and her daughter was in another room when Abinraj entered the house through the balcony around 4.50 am on September 22 last year. He proceeded to touch the victim’s underwear as he saw her asleep, which woke her up. Startled, the victim saw Abinraj holding up his phone with the torchlight on and screamed, waking her husband who confronted Abinraj and asked him to leave the room.

Abinraj then urinated in fear and pleaded with the husband not to call the police. Eventually, the victim called the police, and Abinraj stayed in the unit until their arrival, admitting to trespassing. However, he denied touching the victim and gave a false explanation for his presence in the room.

Prosecution and Defense Arguments

During the court proceedings, the prosecution sought a jail term of six to eight months, emphasizing the aggravating factors of Abinraj breaking into the victim’s home, a private place where she should feel safe, and the vulnerability of the victim while she was asleep. The prosecution also highlighted the further inconvenience caused by Abinraj urinating in the victim’s unit.

Abinraj’s lawyer, Ambalavanar Ravidass, asked for a seven-month jail term, citing his client’s humble background in India and suggesting that Abinraj may have been mentally disturbed at the time of the offenses due to the recent suicide of his grandmother. However, the prosecution refuted this claim, stating that a mental health evaluation did not diagnose Abinraj with any mental condition and that he was simply experiencing normal depression.

Possible Penalties for Molestation

For the crime of molestation, Abinraj could have faced a maximum penalty of up to three years in jail, a fine, and caning. The court ultimately sentenced him to seven months’ jail for the offense.

Overall, the case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of committing acts of molestation and the importance of respecting privacy and boundaries in private spaces.