Eugene Soh Zhuo Sheng, a 37-year-old director of Mind Palace and Dude, found himself entangled in legal troubles as he was sentenced on 31 January to 10 months in jail for two counts of voyeurism. The case sheds light on the intersection of personal disorders and unlawful actions.
Soh, during a turbulent period in his life, committed voyeurism against two women. Claiming a compulsion to hoard digital photographs, he took intimate pictures of the women while they were asleep on separate occasions, according to a report by TODAY.
The court, however, dismissed his defense, highlighting the lack of clarity on how his mental condition led to such invasive actions.
First Victim Encounter
Soh met the first victim, a 36-year-old Singaporean woman, at a mutual friend’s wedding in 2019. Subsequently, they met multiple times at Soh’s residence, where she would consume alcohol and fall asleep. On one occasion in December 2020, Soh took advantage of her vulnerable state, removing her clothing and capturing intimate photographs while she slept.
Soh meticulously recorded 16 images of the victim’s exposed chest and private parts from different angles. He transferred these photographs to his laptop, driven by a desire to keep them hidden from another woman he was dating simultaneously. The victim remained unaware of the violation.
Second Victim’s Ordeal
In a separate incident in October 2020, Soh met his second victim, a 35-year-old woman, through a dating application. After a dinner together, she stayed overnight at his residence. Exploiting her vulnerable state, Soh took five photographs of her body without consent, again featuring her face.
The authorities arrested Soh in December 2020 during a raid at his residence. Two mobile devices and a laptop were seized as evidence. Soh’s voyeuristic actions were exposed, leading to legal proceedings.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Despite Soh’s defense citing a digital hoarding disorder, the judge found no clear connection between the claimed mental condition and the commission of voyeurism. The court sentenced him to 10 months in jail for the invasive and unlawful acts.