Tan Boon Hwee, a 35-year-old man, has once again found himself behind bars for molesting multiple women by touching their feet, according to The Straits Times.
This recalcitrant offender had previously been fined $8,000 in 2019 and sentenced to jail in 2022 for similar charges. However, it seems that he did not learn from his past mistakes and continued to target innocent victims for his deviant desires.
The Recurring Offenses
A Troubling Past
In 2019, Tan Boon Hwee was first convicted of molesting women by touching their feet. The court fined him $8,000 as a consequence of his actions. Unfortunately, this punishment did not deter him from engaging in such behavior.
Jail Time in 2022
In 2022, the recalcitrant offender faced the consequences of his actions once again. He was sent to jail for two weeks and five days after pleading guilty to two molestation charges. However, this brief incarceration proved insufficient to reform his behavior.
The Latest Incidents
On July 8, 2022, Tan targeted an 18-year-old girl in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4. Posing as a representative of a “barefoot organization,” he convinced the young girl to let him photograph her feet. Under the pretense of supporting a cause, the innocent girl agreed, unaware of his sinister intentions.
Once they reached a nearby block of flats, Tan took pictures of her feet and then began to tickle them. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the girl tried to escape, but he held onto her feet tightly. The young victim felt disgusted and uncomfortable and hurriedly walked away.
Repeated Mistakes
A Second Offense
Despite his arrest and jail time, Tan was released back into society. On April 17, 2023, he approached a 24-year-old woman at the Singapore Botanic Gardens using a similar ruse. He asked to photograph her feet, but she declined his request. Ignoring her refusal, he proceeded to molest her by touching her feet.
Re-Arrest and Revelations
Once again, the victim found news reports about Tan’s past offenses and promptly alerted the authorities. This led to his re-arrest on May 2, 2023, and exposed his dark history of molesting two other victims prior to his earlier conviction.
The Prosecution’s Case
Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew presented a compelling case against Tan, detailing the repeated instances of molestation and the severe discomfort and trauma the victims experienced.
The court heard how Tan derived arousal from touching women’s feet and how he exploited their trust for his deviant desires.
Tan Boon Hwee ultimately pleaded guilty to four molestation charges. The court, considering the gravity of his offenses and his unrepentant behavior, sentenced him to 13 months and four weeks’ jail.