Jail, caning for teen who attempted to rape woman

SINGAPORE — A teenager who tried to rape a 25-year-old woman in Choa Chu Kang, when he was seven months into his probation for other offences, was sentenced to eight years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane by the High Court on Monday (Aug 29).

Another three charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

The court heard that in the wee hours of July 26 last year, Marcus Yow Kai Wen, then 17, had the urge to rape someone after watching pornographic films — some of which depicted rape scenarios.

He went out to hunt for a victim, taking along a 15cm-long letter-opener that was shaped like a knife.

At about 3.20am, Yow spotted the woman, who cannot be named due to a court gag order, walking to a lift lobby and waylaid her.

After he told her to stop screaming and placing the letter-opener near her neck, he forced her to walk to the next block.

At the void deck of the next block, Yow started to sexually assault her but could not rape her, and was later interrupted when he heard sounds of people approaching.

He dragged the victim to the back of a pillar to hide her from sight, but she struggled and shouted for help. Yow then fled and returned home.

Citing that there were several aggravating factors in the case, such as pre-meditation of the act by Yow and “the devastating psychological harm and trauma” the victim suffered, Deputy Public Prosecutor Sellakumaran Sellamuthoo urged the court to impose a jail term of eight to 10 years along with 12 strokes of the cane.

“(The victim) had lost her sense of self-worth and does not see the value in life,” he said, adding that she has since moved out of her flat because the offence took place in the vicinity of her home.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Amarick Gill asked for an eight-year jail term and 12 strokes of the cane. He said that there was “never any indication” that Yow would have committed the offence.

“His probation was going well with (Yow) being on very good behaviour,” Mr Amarick said. “There was no breaches of any kind and he adhered to the imposed time restrictions.”

In Dec 2014, the teenager was placed on 18 months’ probation for using criminal force on four women who were aged between 18 and 34 that year.

On three different occasions, he approached the victims from behind and threw a plastic bag or sweater over their heads. Yow also covered a fourth victim’s eyes with his hands.

In sentencing, Justice Choo Han Teck warned Yow that given his tendency to commit such offences at such a young age, if he did not seek help while in prison or after, then the next time he appeared in court, he could be “in lock-up for the rest of your adult life”.

After the sentencing, Yow’s mother broke down outside the courtroom and had to be supported by family members.

For his latest offence, Yow could have faced a maximum penalty of 10 years’ jail with caning.