SINGAPORE — A 68-year-old man was jailed for 12 weeks on Thursday (Jan 6) after exposing himself to schoolgirls at a bus stop in 2020.

Gan Hee Chit, a Singaporean, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exposure.

The court heard that on July 16, 2020, Gan showed his private parts to several female students at a bus stop in Punggol that serves a number of schools in the vicinity.

A recording of the incident taken from a surveillance camera at the bus stop was played in court on Thursday.

At about 2.50pm that day, he alighted from a bus clad in pink-checkered shirt and dark pants and was fiddling with his pants zipper as he was tucking in his shirt.

He then walked towards two schoolgirls at the bus stop and a few minutes later, unzipped his pants.

With his privates exposed, he walked up and down the bus stop, flashing several female students, including three who then fled the scene.

About 10 minutes later, Gan found himself alone with a secondary school student who was looking at her mobile phone while seated on a bench at the bus stop. 

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Stacey Fernandez said that Gan used this opportunity to approach the student and stand close to her.  

She did not notice at first that he had exposed himself to her. However, when she decided to move away from him, she looked up and saw his exposed private parts. 

Gan, looking directly at her, took a step closer. 

Feeling extremely uncomfortable, she moved to the other end of the bench but Gan followed her, trying to start a conversation with her by asking her for directions and asking where she was going.

Soon after, another woman came to the bus stop and the student immediately went up to her to let her know what was happening.

Hearing this, Gan zipped up his pants and apologised before walking away.

At this moment, the three girls who had earlier left the bus stop returned and approached the victim, whose hands were shaking. 

The three — who were from a different school from the victim — called their teacher to report what had happened. Their principal later made a police report.

The victim, through her father, also lodged a police report against Gan. 

NOT HIS FIRST OFFENCE

In asking for 12 to 14 weeks' jail time, DPP Fernandez noted that Gan was convicted in 2019 for similar sex offences and jailed for seven weeks.

She said that in the latest case, although he was served with only one charge concerning one victim, surveillance footage showed that he was targeting several girls and was exposing himself for six minutes before he was alone with the victim.

Defence lawyer Ryan David Lim from IRB Law asked for no more than six weeks, arguing that the sentence requested by the prosecution would be akin to punishing Gan again for his past offences.

Mr Lim, who was assigned as Gan’s lawyer through the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, said: “He is a 68-year-old man, he lives alone, he has few means.”

Gan is diagnosed with adjustment disorder — an unhealthy or excessive response to a particular stressful life event — and has a history of major depressive disorder, the lawyer added.

Since Gan was served with only one charge, the court should not place too much weight on the other victims, he argued.

District Judge John Ng replied, however, that the court can take into account circumstances that are related to the offence, which in this case could be clearly seen from the surveillance footage.

The judge added: “Despite his old age and previous conviction, he has obviously not learnt his lesson.”

For sexual exposure, Gan could have been jailed up to a year or fined, or both.