Man sentenced 12 years’ preventive detention for molesting tourist at Hilton Hotel, robbing another at Tang Plaza

• Isa Ahmad had pleaded guilty to one charge each of aggravated outrage of modesty and robbery
• The offences happened on March 11, 2017 at Hilton Singapore hotel and Tang Plaza
• Isa is a recalcitrant offender who has been committing mostly theft since 1988

SINGAPORE — A 56-year-old repeat offender was sentenced by a district court to 12 years’ preventive detention on Friday (May 14) after he was convicted of molesting a tourist at Hilton Singapore hotel and robbing another Tang Plaza in 2017. 

Isa Ahmad, who was a housekeeper at Orchard Hotel when he committed the offence, had pleaded guilty earlier to one count each for aggravated outrage of modesty and robbery.

A single charge for theft was taken into consideration for Isa’s sentencing.

Preventive detention is a severe punishment imposed on recalcitrant offenders that the court deems should be locked away so as to protect the public and does not offer the usual sentence remission for good behaviour. 

It would not have been the first time that Isa served preventive detention, as he was sentenced in 2002 to 14 years and 24 strokes of the cane for robbery with hurt. 

He broke the law again about six months after being released.  

WHAT HAPPENED
 
The court heard that Isa is a recalcitrant offender who has been committing mostly theft since 1988.

Both of his latest offences happened on March 11, 2017. 

He first targeted a 27-year-old woman who was in Singapore for a two-day holiday.  

She cannot be named due to a court gag order to protect her identity. Her nationality was similarly redacted from court documents.

On the day of the incident, she had returned to Hilton Singapore along Orchard Road at about 11.30am, where she was staying in a room alone. Attracted by her dressing and looks, Isa followed her into the hotel.
 
Both of them got into a lift and she used her key card to get to the 16th floor. She did not notice Isa was following her until she was about to enter her room.

At that point, Isa grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with a towel. 

She tried to use her foot to stop the door from closing but to no avail.

While they struggled, she asked him why he was doing this. He replied that he wanted to “make love” to her. 

She unsuccessfully tried to scream for help and also tried to distract him by asking if he had condoms. 

He responded by pulling her towards him and attempting to kiss her.

He then dragged her onto the bed by her hair and pressed a pillow against her face while she continued to struggle.

It was only after she told him that someone was returning to the room that he fled.

She immediately called hotel security.

Moments later, there was a knock on the door. She opened the door slightly in response and found Isa at her door, asking for his towel back.

The victim shut the door and called security again, as well as a friend.

ROBBED SECOND VICTIM

After leaving the hotel, Isa stole another towel from the Grand Hyatt Singapore hotel along Scotts Road and went over to Tang Plaza where he took the lift to the top floor.

A 48-year-old housewife, who was also in Singapore on vacation, entered the lift on the top floor.

She became suspicious when Isa did not get out and stayed on in the lift.

Her suspicions grew when he pushed the button for the fifth floor and stood behind her.

When the lift door opened on the fifth floor, Isa accosted her and covered her mouth with the towel.

She managed to hit him with her handbag while they struggled, before he snatched her mobile phone when her grip on it loosened.

She managed to escape and sought help from a couple after running to an adjoining car park.

Through closed-circuit television footage, police officers identified Isa and arrested him the next day outside Orchard Hotel.

Aggravated outrage of modesty and robbery each carries a penalty of up to 10 years' jail and caning.

Isa cannot be caned as he is above 50.