A nurse named Ivan Lee Yi Wang has been found guilty of molesting a male patient who was recovering from a gastro-colonoscopy at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in 2018. According to a report by CNA and The Straits Times, Lee was convicted of two charges of molestation following a trial on Feb. 20, 2024.
The victim had met Lee during his first visit to a clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre. Lee had been hired by the clinic independently and was not a member of the hospital staff. The victim had been experiencing abdominal pain, bloating, and excessive belching for three months. Lee helped to register him at the reception counter and later sent him a text message inquiring about a follow-up appointment. However, the victim found this behavior strange and chose not to reply, instead calling the clinic directly to schedule the appointment.
On Oct. 13, 2018, the victim arrived at the clinic for a gastro-colonoscopy and was taken to a recovery ward following the procedure. While he was recovering, he felt his hospital gown being lifted up and a “grip” from what felt like a hand on his genitals. He also caught sight of a flashlight which looked to be from a phone camera. The victim was shocked by what had happened and did not call for help immediately. Lee later returned and molested him a second time.
A female nurse who testified for the prosecution saw Lee standing in front of the recovery room and told him not to enter as the patient was probably still asleep. When she entered the room later with another nurse, she found the victim to be “quite nervous” and insisting that they “make sure the guy is not standing outside of [his] door”.
During his testimony, the victim added that his doctor later told him, “This sort of issue should keep it on the low.” The doctor also said that it was up to the victim if he wished to make a police report. The victim felt “accused” when another nurse said no incriminating pictures had been found in Lee’s phone and that the flashlight he saw could have been from a blood pressure machine.
During his defence, Lee’s lawyers argued that the victim had imagined the act of molestation as he was under the influence of the drugs used to sedate him. They added that Lee was not prohibited from physically examining the victim in the ward and that he had a “suspicion and cognitive bias” against Lee. However, the prosecution noted that Lee himself had admitted that the victim did not have a reason to lie about his offences. Lee claimed that he had entered the room just once to dispense medicine.
For each count of molestation, Lee can be jailed for up to two years, fined, caned, or face any combination of such punishments.