Man jailed 8 months for molest on board Batam ferry
Reuters file photo
SINGAPORE — Despite having served jail sentences ranging from weeks to years for offences of molest that date back to 1983, he remained undeterred and committed the same crime on January 3 on board a ferry returning to Singapore.
Tan Yew Song, 53, was today (Feb 4) sentenced to eight months’ jail for three counts of outrage of modesty by touching the buttocks of a female passenger thrice throughout the journey.
The court heard that the victim, who cannot be named due to a gag order, had boarded a ferry at Batam Centre Ferry Terminal at 1.20pm on January 3.
About two hours later, the ferry entered Singapore waters and the victim got up from her seat to pass some food to her children, who were feeling hungry.
Tan, who was walking along an aisle between the seats, noticed the victim who had her back facing the aisle.
He touched her right buttock once.
Thinking it was an accident, the victim returned to her seat.
Five minutes later, the victim stood up to take some water for her children. Once again, Tan touched her right buttock.
The victim realised she was previously violated in the same manner but was reluctant to pursue the matter.
Ten minutes later, as the ferry was approaching Singapore Cruise Centre, the victim and her family members got ready to disembark. Tan then touched her buttocks a third time.
The victim informed her husband, who confronted Tan. When the ferry docked, her husband sought help from immigration officers, who detained Tan.
Pressing for a deterrent sentence, DPP Andre Chong said Tan had reoffended shortly after serving a three-month term for a similar offence last year.
He was previously sentenced to various terms for similar antecedents dating back to 1983, including a seven-year preventive detention in 2001, accompanied with seven strokes of the cane.
Preventive detention is given to recalcitrant and habitual offenders.
For using criminal offence to outrage the modesty of the victim, Tan could have been jailed up to two years, fined and caned.
