In a disturbing case of betrayal, a 27-year-old Malaysian man and Singapore permanent resident, whose identity is protected, has been sentenced to 45 weeks’ jail for committing voyeurism against two of his female friends, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The shocking incident involved filming his friend’s girlfriend and another female friend, breaching the trust established during their time as undergraduates and flatmates in Singapore.
The perpetrator was part of a close-knit group of four friends, which included a 27-year-old woman, her 26-year-old boyfriend, and another 26-year-old woman. Having known each other since their undergraduate days, they later shared a flat in Singapore, creating an environment of trust and familiarity.
What happened?
The court revealed that the first victim, a 27-year-old woman and also the offender’s colleague, fell prey to his voyeuristic acts. Starting in early 2021, the perpetrator secretly recorded upskirt videos of her within the shared flat and extended his invasive filming to their workplace, capturing her on film a total of 20 times.
As if one victim wasn’t enough, the offender expanded his voyeuristic behavior to include the other female friend, capturing upskirt videos of her at least nine times within their shared living space. The violation escalated when he filmed the first victim while she showered, breaching the sanctity of her private moments and capturing her face on camera.
Caught in the act
The sinister episode reached its climax when the perpetrator, alone at home, attempted to record the first victim while she showered. Detected by the victim, a confrontation ensued, leading to the discovery of the voyeuristic acts. The offender, in an attempt to cover his tracks, apologized, claiming he heard water in the toilet and wanted to ensure there was no one else present.
The victim’s boyfriend, returning home later, confronted the offender. Despite admitting to his actions, the offender continued to deceive, providing a false justification for his voyeuristic behavior. The victim’s boyfriend, however, uncovered evidence on the offender’s phone, including undeleted videos and screenshots, prompting a late-night visit to the police center to report the disturbing incident.
Jailed
The court, upon hearing the harrowing details, sentenced the Malaysian man to 45 weeks’ jail for the two counts of voyeurism, with a third charge taken into consideration. The severity of the punishment reflects the gravity of the offenses committed against the trust and privacy of his friends.