Molester who targeted girl travelling to school for PSLE jailed, caned
SINGAPORE — A Primary 6 pupil who was on her way to school to sit the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) was molested by a construction worker aboard a crowded MRT train, a court heard.
When the 12-year-old victim alighted to change to another train line, Biswas Md Sazal followed her and molested her another time in the other train.
At the State Courts on Wednesday (19 February), the 25-year-old Bangladeshi was sentenced to one year’s jail and three strokes of the cane.
He pleaded guilty to two charges of molestation, with another two similar counts considered in sentencing.
Pressed phone on victim’s chest
On 26 September last year, the victim boarded a crowded south-bound train at Bukit Gombak MRT Station. At about 6.50am, she felt a mobile phone pressing on her left breast and looked up to see Biswas holding his phone at his chest level.
“The accused was holding on one end of his mobile phone while the other end of the mobile phone was pressing on the victim’s breast,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Bjorn Tan.
“The accused continued holding his mobile phone in this manner for about five minutes,” he added.
When the train arrived at Jurong East MRT Station, the victim alighted and waited for an east-bound train heading towards Pasir Ris MRT Station.
Rubbed victim’s waist and buttocks
Biswas then boarded the next train along with the victim and sat to the victim’s left. He then placed his bag on his lap and put his left hand behind his bag.
“Thereafter, the accused used his left hand to rub the victim’s left waist and left buttocks for about 10 minutes,” said DPP Tan.
“The victim was shocked and did not know what to do. When the train was reaching Redhill MRT station, she quickly took a side view photo of the accused and stood up,” he added.
Biswas followed the victim as she alighted at Redhill MRT Station. He then took a train back in the opposite direction.
Victim’s father made police report
The victim reported the matter to MRT station staff. As she had to rush to school for her examination, the staff advised her to make a police report later in the day.
The victim also told her teachers about what happened and they told her father about it.
Later that evening, the victim’s father brought her to a neighbourhood police centre to make a report.
The maximum punishment for using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a minor under 14 is up to five years’ jail, along with a fine and caning.
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