In a distressing incident, a 25-year-old man has been handed a seven-year and nine-month jail sentence, coupled with six strokes of the cane, after being found guilty of rape, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The court proceedings took place on Thursday, January 11, with the man pleading guilty to one count of rape, considering other charges of assault.
The court, respecting the victim’s privacy, has refrained from disclosing the offender’s identity as it could lead to the identification of the victim, who was 20 years old at the time of the assault.
Background
The victim and the offender were previously schoolmates at a tertiary education institution, and their shared circle of friends included the offender’s then-girlfriend.
After completing their education, both the offender and the victim pursued careers as hairdressers.
What happened?
The disturbing incident occurred on November 24, 2021, when the offender, at home with his one-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, invited the victim to lunch.
Initially hesitant due to prior commitments, the victim agreed after the offender assured her that his girlfriend would not object, offering to cover transport costs or provide a meal.
The court heard that the offender informed a friend, whose residence he was staying at, that he had invited a female friend over to discuss personal matters.
However, what was initially presented as a casual meeting took a dark turn. The two discussed hairdressing before moving the conversation to the offender’s room.
During the discussion, the man confessed to the victim that he had held feelings for her since their school days, expressing remorse for being in a committed relationship.
The victim, caught off guard, responded with a simple, “Oh, ok,” leading to a momentary silence. It was during this silence that the offender abruptly kissed the victim, initiating an unwanted and distressing encounter.
Despite the victim’s protests and reminders of his existing relationship and daughter, the offender ignored her and proceeded to rape the woman without using any protection.
In the aftermath, the victim filed a police report, triggering the legal proceedings that culminated in the recent sentencing.