The incident took place in a serviced apartment compound in Singapore, where both the accused, Cho Tae Kwon, and the victim were residing. The victim, a 25-year-old Swedish exchange student at the National University of Singapore, had gone to the pool area to call her boyfriend and fell asleep on the couch. Cho, who was 49 years old at the time and working as an engineer in Singapore, noticed the victim and proceeded to molest her. He then attempted to rape her for six minutes but did not succeed.
The victim woke up during the assault and started resisting, telling Cho to stop several times. Cho then forcefully kissed the victim and later remove his underwear before she managed to get away from him. The victim reported the incident to the police, and Cho was subsequently arrested and charged with molest and attempted rape.
Cho was sentenced to eight years and four-and-a-half months’ jail on May 13, 2024. The prosecutors sought no less than eight to nine years’ imprisonment and four-and-a-half months’ imprisonment in lieu of caning, as Cho cannot be caned as he is above 50 years old. For attempted rape, an offender can be jailed for up to 20 years and fined, or caned. For molest, an offender can be jailed up to three years, fined, caned, or a combination of the penalties.
This incident highlights the importance of ensuring safety and security in public spaces, especially for women. It is tragic that a young woman was senselessly violated in a place where she should have felt safe and secure. The sentence imposed on Cho reflects the severity of his actions and serves as a deterrent to potential offenders. It is crucial for individuals to respect each other’s boundaries and personal space, and to take responsibility for their actions.