A 46-year-old Singapore permanent resident who was previously jailed and caned for molestation has now been fully acquitted by the High Court after an appeal judge found major inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.
Ankit Sharma, an Indian national and Singapore PR, had earlier been sentenced to four years’ jail and six strokes of the cane over allegations that he restrained and molested a female recruiter inside a nursing room at Changi City Point in March 2023.
However, in a judgment released on May 25, High Court judge Christopher Tan overturned the conviction, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The appeal decision means Sharma will no longer face punishment over the allegations.
Case Revolved Around Two Completely Different Versions Of Events
The incident allegedly happened after Sharma met the recruiter for drinks and a discussion about possible job opportunities.
According to the woman, the conversation gradually became sexual and uncomfortable, prompting her to text and call friends and her boyfriend for help. She claimed Sharma later pushed her into a nursing room where he allegedly kissed her and forced sexual acts on her.
Sharma, however, maintained throughout the trial that the encounter was entirely consensual.
He claimed the recruiter willingly participated in intimate acts and had even suggested going to the nursing room herself. He further alleged she initiated physical contact and that the encounter only ended after he lost interest.
The case eventually became heavily dependent on whose account the court believed.
Judge Says Testimony Raised ‘More Questions Than Answers’
In overturning the conviction, Judge Tan said the complainant’s evidence was not “unusually convincing” enough to safely support a guilty verdict.
He pointed to multiple inconsistencies involving her police statements, testimony in court, text messages, and phone calls made during the night of the incident.
One issue highlighted was why the complainant continued staying with Sharma despite allegedly feeling uncomfortable much earlier during the meeting.
The judge also questioned several contradictions involving calls made to her boyfriend, friends, and manager, including messages where she reportedly replied “No lah” when asked whether Sharma had sexually harassed her.
Judge Tan said these inconsistencies were not minor details but went “to the heart” of the allegations.
He also noted discrepancies between the complainant’s version of events and the police statement given by her then-boyfriend.
Conviction Officially Set Aside
The High Court ultimately ruled that it would not be safe to uphold the conviction, leading to Sharma’s acquittal.
The case has since sparked discussions online about the challenges courts face in cases that largely depend on conflicting testimonies without independent witnesses or strong physical evidence.
Under Singapore law, appellate courts generally do not interfere with trial judges’ factual findings unless they are clearly against the weight of evidence. In this case, however, the High Court found enough concerns to overturn the earlier ruling.