In a deeply disturbing case that sent shockwaves through the legal system, a 42-year-old man, given 29 years in jail and 24 strokes of the cane for orchestrating the rape of his wife by inviting men to assault her, had his appeal for a lighter sentence rejected by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, according to The Straits Times.
The Chief Justice deemed the initial sentence as “lenient,” highlighting the gravity of the heinous acts committed by the central figure in this appalling case.
The Gruesome Details
The man, a father of four, was the orchestrator of a horrific conspiracy where men with wife-sharing fantasies had their partners drugged and raped.
This case is part of an unprecedented situation where husbands conspired with others to have their partners drugged and raped. The crimes came to light when the man’s wife discovered explicit images of herself on his mobile phone on January 1, 2020, leading to the revelation of the horrifying exchange of partners among the accused.
In May 2023, he admitted in the High Court to inviting five men to his home between 2010 and 2018 to rape his wife. The victims were drugged, and the assaults took place in the couple’s bedroom while their children slept in another room. Shockingly, the man also raped the wives of two of the men involved in this twisted scheme.
The Appeal and Pleas for Leniency
On January 17, the man, who represented himself, appealed to the Court of Appeal, expressing love for his family and requesting leniency. He acknowledged his wrongdoing but pleaded for a more compassionate sentence. Letters from his mother and sister were submitted, describing him as a filial son who struggled to provide for his family. Despite financial difficulties, the man refrained from seeking financial support from his parents.
However, the three-judge apex court, including Chief Justice Menon, did not find fault with the original sentence. Chief Justice Menon stated that if anything, the judge was lenient in the case. He advised the man to confront his actions and find answers rather than seeking leniency from the court. The Chief Justice emphasized the court’s obligation to adhere to precedents and sentencing principles.