Man gets 20 weeks' jail for filming other men showering in Anytime Fitness gym

SINGAPORE — A 36-year-old man was sentenced to 20 weeks' jail on Friday (Dec 16) for filming other men showering at the gym, claiming that he did so because he thought his body "looked terrible" and wanted to look more like others.

Von Ling Wei Hao, a Singaporean who was working as a compliance officer with an investment management firm, pleaded guilty to eight charges related to voyeurism. Five similar charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

The court heard that Ling filmed men showering on at least 11 occasions between May 2018 and January 2020. 

All of the recordings were taken at the changing room of the Anytime Fitness gym at International Plaza on Anson Road in the Central Business District.

Ling’s crimes came to light on Jan 8, 2020 while he was at the gym exercising, the court heard.

After a 30-minute workout, Ling went to the male changing room to shower when he noticed that one of the cubicles was occupied.

He went to the adjoining cubicle, took out his mobile phone and started filming the man from above the partition.

The victim spotted the phone about two minutes later. He got out and knocked on Ling’s cubicle door but Ling did not respond.

The victim then went to report the matter to a staff member at the gym and they returned to the changing room together and knocked on Ling’s cubicle door again.

This time, he replied that he was changing.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Yohanes Ng said: “He was panicking and stalling for time.”

After getting changed, Ling exited the cubicle and denied that he was filming the victim. 

However, he eventually handed his phone to a staff member, who called the police. 

Ling was arrested and later admitted that it was not his first time recording men in the shower. 

“He claimed that he did so out of a sense of inferiority because he thought he looked ugly and was therefore curious about what other men’s bodies looked like,” DPP Ng said.

“He also explained that he did so because he thought his body looked terrible, and he wanted to look like others.”

Noting that incidents of voyeurism continue to rise, DPP Ng sought 20 weeks’ jail, saying that such a sentence was “by no means crushing” and was needed to deter would-be voyeurs.

Ling’s lawyer Kalaithasan Karuppaya from Regent Law pleaded for leniency. He said that his client wishes to put the episode behind him and is extremely worried for his career.

Addressing the court directly, Ling said: “I’m very sorry and remorseful for what I have done to the victims and everyone involved. I promise to be a good standing citizen in the future. Please give me a chance to contribute to society.” 

An offence of voyeurism carries a penalty of up to two years’ jail or fine or caning, or any combination of these punishments.