Man gets 17 years’ jail for raping, robbing woman

SINGAPORE — His intention was to rob, but when cafe employee Chang Kar Meng (picture) came into contact with his victim’s body after knocking her out at the foot of her block, he got aroused.

The 27-year-old dragged her to a grass patch nearby and took photos of her exposed breasts before he raped her. Although the woman, 35, had regained consciousness before the rape, she pretended otherwise out of fear.

Later, Chang carried her to the staircase landing of her block and made off with her sling bag containing S$300, her gold necklace, mobile phone and other belongings.

Yesterday, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17 years’ jail and a maximum 24 strokes of the cane for rape and robbery with hurt.

A third charge, of possessing a sports bra and white dress suspected to have been stolen, was taken into consideration by High Court judge Tay Yong Kwang. The court also heard that numerous pieces of women’s underwear were seized from him after his arrest.

Chang, a Malaysian, had decided to rob while on his way home as he was short of money, the court was told. On March 8, 2013, the victim, who had just finished her shift as a waitress, was looking at her phone while waiting for the lift at about 1.30am, when Chang crept up and hit her on the back of her neck, knocking her out.

After the assault, the victim cried when she got home and her husband called the police. Chang was nabbed five-and-a-half months after the incident. Details of investigations that led to his capture were not made known, but his DNA was found on the victim’s body and clothes.

Pushing for a total sentence of 18 years’ jail and 24 strokes of the cane, Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhong Zewei argued that such violent crimes must be deterred. The number of rape cases increased from 133 in 2012 to 163 last year, he said. Mr Zhong added that the victim has also suffered trauma — she has since changed jobs so as to return home earlier, and no longer feels safe in public at night or using her phone while waiting for the lift.

Defence lawyer Sunil Sudheesan asked for the sentences to run concurrently, urging the court to “be very careful about double-counting the (victim’s) fear” in sentencing Chang. His client was remorseful and his crimes were out of character, he argued. Chang had felt useless after his girlfriend’s offer to treat him to McDonald’s on the night of the offence.

According to the defence, Chang was diagnosed with depression and festishistic transvestism after his arrest. He claimed to have deleted the photos he took of the victim the morning after the offence.

Justice Tay ordered 12 years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane for the offence of rape, and five years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane for robbery with hurt, with the sentences to run consecutively. The judge also said the courts cannot provide assurance of public safety, but can ensure that those who breach public safety are severely dealt with.

Chang plans to appeal against the sentence. Several of his relatives, including his mother, were in court yesterday. NEO CHAI CHIN