Woman jailed 10 days for lying to police that her landlord molested her

SINGAPORE — A 20-year-old woman was sentenced to 10 days’ jail on Wednesday (Feb 19), after pleading guilty to lying to a police officer that her landlord Simranjeet Singh had molested her.

Lovedeep Kaur, an Indian national, had shown Mr Singh's wife a phone text message that he sent her, which implied that he liked Lovedeep.

The court heard that on June 24 last year, Lovedeep came across Mrs Singh at the void deck of Block 75 Whampoa Drive while she was on her way home.

She showed Mrs Singh the text message and she grew upset, so she immediately returned home to confront her husband.

The couple began arguing when he tried to explain his intentions, before Mrs Singh confronted Lovedeep.

Lovedeep called the police a few minutes later. When officers arrived at the scene, she told them that before Mrs Singh got home, Mr Singh had molested her.

In light of the allegations, a senior investigation officer went to the flat to interview them at about 11pm.

During the interview, Lovedeep claimed that Mr Singh had squeezed her breasts, slid his hands down to her buttocks and told her to have sex with him while she was in the shower.

She further alleged that she rejected his advances and he left the bathroom when he heard someone opening the main door.

Mr Singh was then arrested and taken to the Tanglin Police Division headquarters. He was released only the following afternoon after assisting in investigations.

The same afternoon, Lovedeep was interviewed again by an investigating officer and she then confessed to giving false information.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jaime Pang sought at least two weeks’ jail. District Judge Toh Han Li gave her a slightly shorter sentence due to her young age.

When the judge asked whether a short detention order — which would not result in a recorded criminal conviction — was suitable for Lovedeep, DPP Pang responded that false reports have “very serious implications in the administration of justice and the individuals targeted”.

“The victim suffered deprivation of liberty for quite a few hours. There was actual harm caused,” he added.

In mitigation, Lovedeep said through a Punjabi interpreter that she was “truly sorry” for committing the offence and was “totally unaware” that it would be so serious.

She came to Singapore to study at her own expense, she added. Her student pass was revoked and she remained in the country on a special pass solely because of the court proceedings.

For providing false information to a public servant, she could have been jailed up to two years, fined, or both.