Repeat offender who molested woman on MRT train gets jail, caning
Aw Soon Heng caressed a woman while they were in a crowded train along the North-South Line, on the morning of September 21, 2017. Photo: Reuters
SINGAPORE — An unemployed man who was jailed three times before for outraging the modesty of women was thrown behind bars again for the same offence on Friday (Jan 5).
This time, he caressed a woman while they were in a crowded train along the North-South Line, on the morning of Sept 21 last year.
For that, District Judge Tan Jen Tse sentenced Aw Soon Heng, 37, to 15 months’ jail and four strokes of the cane. He will serve another three months for stealing a S$900 Marin bicycle, which he sold for S$180.
Two other charges — one for possessing obscene films and another for stealing clothing items — were taken into consideration during sentencing.
The court heard that in 2005, 2013 and 2014, Aw served jail sentences ranging between eight and 12 months after he was convicted for outrage of modesty, which carries a maximum penalty of two years.
His latest victim was a 30-year-old Singaporean who was on the train that morning going to Raffles Place for work.
Court papers revealed that Aw spotted her at the platform of Ang Mo Kio MRT Station and intentionally stood very close in front of her on the crowded train carriage.
At one point during the journey, the victim felt a stroking sensation at her crotch but thought it was her own bag rubbing against her clothes. To her horror, she later saw that Aw was touching her. Disgusted, she pushed him away and shouted at him to move away from her.
Aw apologised a few times before alighting at Bishan station.
Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew said that the victim was traumatised after the incident, and quoted her as saying: “I was feeling really scared and was shivering… I was alone and felt really angry.”
Aw, who was unrepresented in court and said that he has a girlfriend, pleaded for leniency, telling District Judge Tan that he “realised his wrongdoing”. “This serves as a final warning to me… This will be the last time I commit,” he said.
