SINGAPORE: A man who took upskirt videos of his friend’s girlfriend on at least 20 occasions was sentenced to 45 weeks’ jail.
The 27-year-old Malaysian, a Singapore permanent resident, also took upskirt videos of another female friend on at least nine occasions.
The offender, who cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the victims’ identities, pleaded guilty to two voyeurism charges on Thursday (Dec 7).
Deputy Public Prosecutor Niranjan Ranjakunalan said the offender was friends with the first victim, who is 27, her boyfriend, and the second victim, a 26-year-old woman.
They got to know each other in university and later shared a flat together. The first victim was also a colleague of the offender.
In early 2021, the offender began recording upskirt videos of the first victim in their flat. He took videos of her in their office as well and filmed her on at least 20 occasions at both locations.
In 2022, he began recording upskirt videos of the second victim in their flat. He did so on at least nine occasions.
On Nov 23, 2022, he was in the flat when the first victim returned home and went to shower.
Holding his mobile phone, he extended his hand through the toilet window and tried to record a video of her having a bath.
She shouted when she saw his hand, and he quickly retracted it. She called her boyfriend to tell him what had happened, and he rushed home.
Before the boyfriend arrived, the offender sent her a message on Facebook Messenger to apologise.
He then deleted the videos of the two victims from his phone and Google Drive account, thinking he had cleared them all.
When the boyfriend came home, the offender admitted to taking a video, but lied that he did so as he was unsure if there was anyone else in the flat and wanted to record a video to verify who was home.
The offender also lied that this was his first time recording such a video.
The boyfriend checked the offender’s phone and found some similar videos and screenshots he had failed to delete.
He then took the offender to lodge a police report on Nov 24. The offender was arrested the same day.
Seeking between 11½ and 13½ months’ jail for the offender, DPP Niranjan said the offences were committed within the sanctity of the first victim’s own home, where she had the right to feel safe.
“The (offender) also retained the videos he had taken which gave rise to the potential of repeated invasions of the first victim’s privacy long after the videos had been taken,” added the prosecution.
In mitigation, defence counsel Rajan Supramaniam said his client was remorseful and has apologised to the victims for his actions.
The lawyer added that his client had surrendered to the police on his own accord and has made attempts to seek self-help by attending counselling sessions.
Those found guilty of voyeurism can be jailed for up to two years, fined, caned, or face any combination of these punishments. - The Straits Times/ANN
