Doctor, 70, who allegedly molested patient among 9 men charged with outrage of modesty

• Nine men aged between 19 and 70 were hauled to court for sexual offences, the oldest being a doctor
• A 63-year-old is accused of molesting his granddaughter twice on the same day
• A 46-year-old man was charged with molesting his stepdaughter four times between 2016 and 2020

SINGAPORE — Nine men between the ages of 19 and 70 were charged on Thursday (Aug 26) with molestation offences in separate incidents, with the oldest being a doctor who practises at a clinic in Yishun.

All their alleged victims cannot be named because of court orders to protect their identities.

The men charged were:

Chua Kee Loi, 70

The doctor is accused of touching a 27-year-old female patient’s cheek as well as her breast over her clothing on Aug 5 last year at Chua Clinic and Surgery at Block 769 Yishun Avenue 3.

The Singaporean was offered bail of S$10,000 and will return to court on Sept 23.

A 63-year-old man

He purportedly molested his granddaughter, 14, on two occasions at their Jalan Besar flat on Dec 10 last year by massaging and touching her private parts.

The Singaporean man, who cannot be named as this could lead to the identification of his granddaughter, told the court that he was not living with the girl now and intended to contest the two charges. 

He was offered bail of S$10,000 and will return to court on Sept 14.

A 46-year-old man

He allegedly molested his stepdaughter on four occasions at their Yishun flat between 2016 and last year. She was below the age of 14 at the time.

The Singaporean cannot be named because it could lead to the girl being identified.

He is accused of acts such as trying to guide her hands into his underwear, grabbing her thighs, and trying to make her perform a sex act on him.

He said that he intended to plead guilty and will return to court on Oct 8.

Ang Cheng Wei, 28

He faces one charge each of outrage of modesty and causing harassment, alarm or distress to two women.

Court documents showed that on the evening of March 2, Ang, a Singaporean, allegedly asked a 23-year-old woman while looking at her chest: “You look really good; can I have a touch?” 

This allegedly happened near a condominium complex along Pasir Ris Drive 3.

Soon afterwards, on March 30, he allegedly touched another 23-year-old woman’s buttocks over her dress at a pedestrian crossing along Elias Road in Pasir Ris.

He Yanjun, 45

He faces six charges of molesting his female colleague, 47, on six occasions at their workplace along Mandai Road.

Between December 2019 and February last year, the China national allegedly pinched her buttocks, hugged her from the back, placed his arms around her body and committed other acts. 

He told the court that he planned to contest the charges and hire a lawyer.

He was offered bail of S$10,000 and will return to court on Sept 15.

Mohamed Syameer Mohamed Shamudi, 19

The student was charged with molesting an 18-year-old girl by grabbing and squeezing her breast. This allegedly happened on the evening of March 4 along a walkway leading to the toilet of Cherry Discotheque in Telok Ayer.

The Singaporean said that he wished to apply for a pro bono lawyer from the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. 

He remains out on S$5,000 bail and will return to court on Sept 15.

Rajendran Suresh Menan, 33

The India national purportedly pinched a 23-year-old woman’s thigh along a walkway at Tekka Centre in Little India on the evening of April 18.

Lai Chii Chuan, 30

The Singaporean is accused of touching a 35-year-old woman’s buttocks outside a toilet at the 313@Somerset mall on Nov 8 last year.

Shandru Muthusamy, 30

He allegedly molested a 32-year-old woman by brushing against and squeezing her thigh on board an MRT train between the Toa Payoh and Bishan stops on Jan 2.

The Malaysian also purportedly brushed against a 30-year-old woman’s thigh on the platform of Yio Chu Kang MRT Station several minutes later.

He said that he intended to plead guilty and will return to court on Sept 15.

OUTRAGE OF MODESTY 'KEY CONCERN'  

A 10th man was set to be charged on Thursday with molesting a 19-year-old woman at Outram Park MRT Station on Nov 22 last year. 

The charge was, however, not read to the 35-year-old because he required a Punjabi interpreter.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, the police said that outrage-of-modesty cases remained a key concern.

“The police have zero tolerance towards sexual offenders who threaten the personal safety of the community. They will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law.”

Those convicted of molestation can be jailed for up to two years, while the maximum jail term for molesting a minor under 14 is five years. They could also be fined or caned, or receive any combination of the three punishments. 

Offenders older than 50 cannot be caned under Singapore law.