reporter2
03-05-12, 16:25
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_792732.html
Condo guard jailed for molesting resident
He was drunk when he outraged the modesty of Japanese woman
Published on Apr 26, 2012
By Khushwant Singh
A CONDOMINIUM security guard with a long rap-sheet was jailed yesterday for outraging the modesty of a female resident while drunk on the job.
Singaraja Rasiah, 61, was sentenced to a year and two months in jail. He could have been sentenced to up to two years in jail, fined or caned, or to any combination of these penalties.
The court heard that the guard had started work at the Kentish Green Condominium in Little India in 2010.
On Feb 10 last year, the resident had returned to the condo at 7pm and greeted Singaraja as she passed the guardhouse.
About 40 minutes later, he went to her apartment and rang the doorbell.
The Japanese woman, a kindergarten teacher, saw that it was Singaraja and opened the door.
He spoke in English and asked her how her husband was and where he was at that moment.
Her poor English meant she was unable to fully understand him and thought her husband, a sales executive, was ill and at home. She opened the door to the master bedroom to check but there was no sight of him.
It was then that Singaraja pulled her towards him and stroked her crotch.
She screamed and pushed him out of the room and apartment, before calling her husband, who then notified police.
Singaraja was placed under arrest and as he appeared intoxicated, he was sent for a blood test. It revealed a blood alcohol level of 114mg per 100ml, above the drink-driving limit of 80mg.
He was also sacked from his job.
The court heard that Singaraja and the couple had been on friendly terms before the incident.
The couple had visited Singaraja's home on Deepavali in 2010, and had even praised his work performance to the condominium's management.
Singaraja, who is married with three grown children, had been jailed for theft and housebreaking in 1972, 1978 and 1990. He also committed criminal intimidation in 1998 and employed an illegal worker in 2001.
Defence lawyer Rajan Supramaniam tried to argue that probation would be appropriate in view of his client's long history of psychiatric disorders associated with alcoholism.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ramu Miyapan, however, argued for a jail term of not less than 18 months.
He said the victim had been very traumatised by the incident and was unable to continue working here and had to resign from her job.
The couple have returned to Japan.
Responding to queries on whether a person with such convictions could become a security officer, a police spokesman said that both the gravity of the previous offence and the amount of time a person has remained 'clean' are taken into account.
The Police Licensing & Regulatory Department, which does the security screening of potential officers, takes into account a person's previous criminal record, in assessing his suitability for a security officer licence, she added.
[email protected]
Additional reporting by Jalelah Abu Baker
Condo guard jailed for molesting resident
He was drunk when he outraged the modesty of Japanese woman
Published on Apr 26, 2012
By Khushwant Singh
A CONDOMINIUM security guard with a long rap-sheet was jailed yesterday for outraging the modesty of a female resident while drunk on the job.
Singaraja Rasiah, 61, was sentenced to a year and two months in jail. He could have been sentenced to up to two years in jail, fined or caned, or to any combination of these penalties.
The court heard that the guard had started work at the Kentish Green Condominium in Little India in 2010.
On Feb 10 last year, the resident had returned to the condo at 7pm and greeted Singaraja as she passed the guardhouse.
About 40 minutes later, he went to her apartment and rang the doorbell.
The Japanese woman, a kindergarten teacher, saw that it was Singaraja and opened the door.
He spoke in English and asked her how her husband was and where he was at that moment.
Her poor English meant she was unable to fully understand him and thought her husband, a sales executive, was ill and at home. She opened the door to the master bedroom to check but there was no sight of him.
It was then that Singaraja pulled her towards him and stroked her crotch.
She screamed and pushed him out of the room and apartment, before calling her husband, who then notified police.
Singaraja was placed under arrest and as he appeared intoxicated, he was sent for a blood test. It revealed a blood alcohol level of 114mg per 100ml, above the drink-driving limit of 80mg.
He was also sacked from his job.
The court heard that Singaraja and the couple had been on friendly terms before the incident.
The couple had visited Singaraja's home on Deepavali in 2010, and had even praised his work performance to the condominium's management.
Singaraja, who is married with three grown children, had been jailed for theft and housebreaking in 1972, 1978 and 1990. He also committed criminal intimidation in 1998 and employed an illegal worker in 2001.
Defence lawyer Rajan Supramaniam tried to argue that probation would be appropriate in view of his client's long history of psychiatric disorders associated with alcoholism.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ramu Miyapan, however, argued for a jail term of not less than 18 months.
He said the victim had been very traumatised by the incident and was unable to continue working here and had to resign from her job.
The couple have returned to Japan.
Responding to queries on whether a person with such convictions could become a security officer, a police spokesman said that both the gravity of the previous offence and the amount of time a person has remained 'clean' are taken into account.
The Police Licensing & Regulatory Department, which does the security screening of potential officers, takes into account a person's previous criminal record, in assessing his suitability for a security officer licence, she added.
[email protected]
Additional reporting by Jalelah Abu Baker