[ad_1]
Shaffiq Alkhatib
The times of the strait
November 26, 2020
A full-time National Serviceman (NSF) of the Singapore Police allegedly insulted a colleague’s modesty while in a police unit last year.
Jonathan Chua Wei Cong, now 23, is demanding a trial on each of the charges of criminal transgression and insult to a woman’s modesty.
The alleged victim, who was then 30 years old, cannot be identified due to a gag order.
Chua, who has since completed his national service, allegedly committed the crimes at around 5 p.m. on March 12 last year.
On the first day of her trial on Thursday (November 26), the court heard that Chua allegedly entered a women’s bathroom at the headquarters before placing her mobile phone on top of a cubicle door.
A colleague was in the shower at the time.
Deputy District Attorney Tan Zhi Hao told District Judge Brenda Tan that when the alleged victim saw the top half of the device pointed at her, she screamed.
The perpetrator fled before she could see him, but the woman told her superiors about the incident and a lockdown was ordered.
Mobile phones belonging to people who were present in the unit were later inspected, the court heard.
The DPP added: “Based on the description of the phone provided by the victim, (an assistant superintendent) narrowed down the suspects to the defendants and 13 people.”
But she said the evidence showed the 13 people did not enter the women’s bathroom that day.
“It is indisputable between the parties that, sometime between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm, the defendant entered the women’s bathroom while in possession of his mobile phone,” DPP Tan added.
The alleged victim, who filed a police report around 8:40 p.m. that same day, gave her testimony behind closed doors in court on Thursday. This means that the hearing was not open to the public, including members of the media.
In a statement after Chua was indicted in court last year, police said that force officers, including national service officers, are expected to respect the law and maintain high standards of discipline and integrity.
“Those who commit criminal offenses will be charged in court and treated in accordance with the law. Since the court case is ongoing, we cannot comment further,” his spokesman added.
The trial continues.
For insulting a woman’s modesty, a criminal can be imprisoned for up to one year and fined.
