A 44-year-old man has been sentenced to five weeks’ imprisonment after exposing himself to a nurse and making inappropriate sexual requests while receiving treatment at a public hospital in Singapore. The case has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by healthcare workers, particularly nurses, who often work in close physical proximity to patients as part of their professional duties.
The man, Charles Teng Wei Yian, pleaded guilty to one charge of insulting the modesty of a female nurse. A gag order has been imposed to protect the identity of the victim. The court heard that Teng had been warded for nearly two weeks due to liver inflammation and was recovering from surgery during his hospital stay.
As part of his post-operative care, Teng was required to use a urine bag, and nurses had informed him that he should seek assistance whenever he needed to use the toilet or shower, as the tube connected to the bag had to remain properly positioned. This routine medical instruction later became the context for the offence.
INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
On the night of the incident, Teng activated the call bell after 9.30pm and requested to take a shower. When a female nurse responded, she offered to arrange for a male colleague to assist him instead. Teng questioned her response and insisted that she accompany him, claiming he needed to tell her something privately.
Trusting that the request was related to his medical condition, the nurse agreed to help and escorted him to the toilet while carrying his urine bag. Once inside, Teng lowered his voice and told her that he had “personal needs” as a man and asked her to help him, which the nurse immediately recognised as a request for sexual favours.
Alarmed by his behaviour, the nurse drew the shower curtain between them. Despite her clear rejection, Teng proceeded to leave the shower area and fully exposed himself to her, asking her to scrub his back while he showered. The court was told that the nurse felt fearful but remained in the toilet due to her sense of professional duty and concern for the patient’s medical needs.
COURT HIGHLIGHTS VULNERABILITY OF HEALTHCARE STAFF
The prosecution stressed that nurses routinely assist patients with intimate tasks such as bathing and toileting, making them particularly vulnerable to sexual misconduct. The incident, they argued, underscored the need for strong deterrence to protect healthcare professionals in hospitals and other medical settings.
Teng was described as showing a lack of remorse, continuing his inappropriate behaviour even after his request was explicitly rejected. The court took into account the impact of the offence on the victim, as well as the broader public interest in safeguarding frontline healthcare workers.
Under Singapore law, a person convicted of insulting the modesty of another can face imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both. In sentencing Teng to five weeks’ jail, the court sent a clear signal that sexual misconduct in medical environments will be treated seriously.
The case has reignited conversations around workplace safety in hospitals, the need for clear protocols when handling vulnerable situations, and the importance of respecting professional boundaries. As Singapore continues to strengthen protections for healthcare staff, this incident serves as a stark reminder that abuse of trust in medical settings carries serious legal consequences.