Jail for man who took 26 upskirt videos at MRT stations and on trains using hidden camera

SINGAPORE — He would place a camera facing up in a paper bag and put the bag on the floor of MRT cabins or go near women at various MRT stations to take upskirt videos of them. He did this 26 times before he was eventually caught. 

Song Wei Tat, 36, pleaded guilty on Thursday (April 20) to one charge of committing voyeurism, with a similar charge taken into consideration.

District Judge Crystal Tan sentenced him to four months’ jail.

During investigations, the police found a total of 19 upskirt videos taken between Jan 2 and 30 in 2020. They were on Song’s mobile phone and action camera, which is a small digital camera designed to record dynamic and fast-paced moments and widely used by sports enthusiasts.

In court, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jonathan Tan said that over about two months, Song took a total of 26 upskirt videos of different women without their consent at various MRT stations or on the train.

He would intentionally record images and videos of the victims’ genital regions, whether exposed or covered.

WHAT HAPPENED

On Feb 6, 2020, Song took a train from Tai Seng MRT Station heading towards Paya Lebar MRT Station. 

Before he reached Tai Seng MRT Station, he had placed an action camera in a dark blue paper bag that he was carrying, with the intention of taking upskirt videos.

When he arrived at Paya Lebar MRT Station, he switched the camera to recording mode.

He then boarded a train at the station and went to the front cabin where he saw a girl in a pink skirt. Court documents did not state her age.

When the train was at Aljunied MRT Station, Song stood beside her and put the paper bag on the floor at a position and angle where the camera had a direct view of the girl’s buttocks and genital areas.

After a while, a male passenger noticed him recording the upskirt video, so he confronted Song and alerted the girl.

Both the male passenger and the girl then took him to the control station at the next station in Kallang.

There, an SMRT staff member called the police.

In court, DPP Tan sought four months’ jail for Song, saying that deterrence is a key sentencing principle in voyeurism cases.

He added that Song's offences were clearly planned and premeditated.

Song's defence counsel, Mr SS Dhillon, sought three months’ jail on account that he had cooperated with investigations and did not resist detainment and arrest at the MRT station.

Mr Dhillon added that there were “no aggravating factors in this case” such as distribution of video because they were “meant for his own self-viewing”.

“My client is most remorseful for what he has done and wants to apologise to the victims.

“He is also a first-time offender with no previous convictions… he pleads for leniency and mercy.” 

Song’s wife, who is one month pregnant and was also in court, had submitted a written leniency plea to the court, the lawyer said.

In sentencing, District Judge Tan said she agreed with the prosecution that Song had clear planning and premeditation in committing voyeurism and had tried to disguise his offence by hiding the camera in a bag. 

“I also found it was aggravating for the offences to be committed on public transport or other transport areas,” she added.

Anyone convicted of committing voyeurism can be jailed up to two years, or fined, or caned, or be given any combination of these punishments.