Man fined $4,000 for molesting student nurse at health facility

SINGAPORE – A man was at a health facility when he molested a student nurse posted there.

Tan Kiah Chye, 60, was fined $4,000 on Nov 12 after he pleaded guilty to outraging the 20-year-old woman’s modesty. He was also ordered to pay her $1,000 as compensation.

Details about the facility cannot be disclosed due to a gag order.

At around 9.30am on May 19, Tan, who uses a wheelchair, wheeled towards the victim and slapped her left buttock over her trousers.

He apologised to her after she turned around.

The victim made a police report and officers arrested Tan in June.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Xavier Tan told the court that the victim had emotional trauma following the incident.

“The accused outraged the modesty of a student who was training to be a healthcare worker,” he said.

“Victims of sexual assault experience indignity, mental and emotional suffering, humiliation and/or distress from the violation.”

For molestation, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined, caned, or receive any combination of such punishments.

Caning is exempted for male offenders over 50 years old.

Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times’ court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts.