The victims cannot be named due to a gag order to protect their privacy. - Photo: ST
SINGAPORE: A man who molested an auxiliary police officer and two other women – at the State Courts, a police lock-up, and a welfare home – has been jailed for 27 months.
Colin Er Chin Ho, 53, was sentenced on Wednesday (Oct 1) after he pleaded guilty to three counts of outrage of modesty. Two other similar charges and one charge of voluntarily causing hurt were taken into consideration for his sentence.
The victims cannot be named due to a gag order to protect their privacy.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Pei Wei told the court that the first victim was molested on June 17 at a welfare home, where Er lived at the time.
The victim, who was a cleaner deployed to the home, was cleaning ceiling fans in the dormitory when Er noticed her.
He followed her when she went to another room to clean the fans. When she got down from the ladder after she was done, Er grabbed her from behind and molested her.
DPP Tan said: “Though (the victim) shouted for help and struggled, the accused continued his acts until her colleagues intervened and separated them.”
Er was arrested on the same day and escorted to a police division headquarters. But he committed a similar act against an auxiliary police officer working at the headquarters’ regional lock-up.
The offence occurred while he was being escorted to a property room to deposit his personal belongings.
Though his wrists were handcuffed in the front, he lunged forward and molested the officer. Another auxiliary police officer pulled him away.
DPP Tan said the victim cried after the assault.
Er was charged on June 19. When he was brought to court again on July 3, he molested another woman at the State Courts lock-up.
Court documents said that she was deployed to the lock-up but did not state her occupation.
Despite being handcuffed in front, Er rushed towards the victim and molested her. She raised her arms to block him, and they struggled before officers intervened and pulled Er away.
DPP Tan said the woman had light bruising on her right forearm as his handcuffs hit her during the assault.
Court documents said Er was remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for medical examination, but did not state the outcome of the examination.
Asking for the court to sentence Er to between 21 and 26 months’ jail, the prosecutor noted that police officers are exposed to the risk of violence and aggression daily when performing frontline duties.
There is a need to assure these officers of adequate protection and vindication against behaviour that might compromise their duties, added DPP Tan. - The Straits Times/ANN
