A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 months’ probation after committing a string of disturbing offences, including performing a lewd act on a cat and bullying a classmate with special needs. The offences took place across 2022 and 2023, with the man pleading guilty to three out of six charges brought against him. The remaining charges were considered during sentencing.
He was also ordered to perform 70 hours of community service and is barred from visiting public spaces between 10pm and 6am. Additionally, his mother was required to post a $5,000 bond to ensure his good behaviour throughout the probation period.
Lewd Act With Cat in Bukit Panjang Captured on CCTV
The incident involving the cat occurred on April 8, 2023, in the corridor of an HDB block in Bukit Panjang. The man, then 19 years old, was familiar with the cat, which frequently roamed outside its owner’s flat in the same neighbourhood.
On the night of the incident, at around 1:52am, he spotted the cat and fed it some food found nearby. While the animal was eating, the man became aroused. After checking that no one was around, he knelt beside the cat, pulled down his shorts, and committed a lewd act. The act lasted around 10 seconds before the cat ran off. He then picked up the cat again and rubbed it against his shorts before it escaped.
Unbeknownst to him, his actions were captured by a CCTV camera installed at a neighbouring unit. The footage later formed a critical part of the evidence against him.
Harassment and Violence Against Classmate With Autism
The man was also involved in repeated harassment of a fellow course mate who has mild intellectual disability and is on the autism spectrum. The bullying took place in 2022 when both were attending the same educational institution.
Court records showed that the offender frequently targeted the victim—verbally abusing him in person and online, tripping him, slapping him, and even demanding money. On one occasion, he followed the victim into a toilet and slapped him in the face simply because he saw the victim resting his head against a fellow student’s bag.
The situation came to light only after the victim’s father discovered threatening messages on MS Teams, where the offender had sent vulgar and violent threats, including messages like “I will f**king kill u” and “ugly piece of shit.”
Judge Emphasised Rehabilitation Over Punishment
Despite the severity of the offences, the court accepted the probation report’s findings, which assessed the offender as suitable for rehabilitation. His youth and potential for reform were taken into account.
However, the court imposed strict conditions to ensure accountability. These included community service, a nightly curfew, and financial surety from his family. The offender must also undergo counselling and behaviour management interventions during the probation period.
This case has drawn significant public attention due to the unusual and disturbing nature of the offences, especially the act involving the animal. Authorities have reiterated the importance of mental health support and early intervention in such cases to prevent escalation.
Animal welfare groups and advocates for people with special needs have expressed concern, urging greater education and support systems to prevent similar incidents in future.