3-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) Two overseas nationals, have found themselves at the centre of a high-profile rape trial that commenced on 2 September at Singapore’s High Court. The men, aged 49 and 50, are accused of sexually assaulting a woman who previously worked with the younger defendant.
The alleged incident took place between 26 and 27 February 2023 at the upscale Carlton Hotel, situated in the bustling Bras Basah Road area of Singapore. Both men, longtime friends of two decades, appeared in court donning formal attire, steadfastly denying the charges levelled against them.
In a bid to protect the victim’s identity, the court has imposed a gag order on naming the accused. This decision was upheld despite attempts by the prosecution to lift the restriction, citing concerns that revealing their identities could inadvertently lead to the victim’s identification due to their shared professional circles.
The 49-year-old defendant faces charges of sexual assault by penetration, outrage of modesty, and obstructing justice by allegedly deleting communications between himself and his co-accused. His 50-year-old friend stands accused of two counts of rape, two counts of outrage of modesty, possession of an intimate image of the complainant, and obstructing justice.
Court documents, heavily redacted to maintain confidentiality, reveal that the woman had previously worked under the younger defendant and had maintained occasional contact. The trio’s paths crossed when the woman agreed to meet her former superior for dinner whilst all were in Singapore.
Prosecutors allege that on the afternoon of 26 February, the two men began drinking gin and tonic in the older man’s hotel room, possibly accompanied by the consumption of Viagra. The situation took a turn when the victim joined them, allegedly under the pretence of meeting before their planned dinner engagement.
The Crown contends that as the evening progressed, the woman’s consciousness began to waver after consuming alcohol. She reportedly has little recollection of events after 6:25 pm, save for fragmented memories of saying “no” multiple times as she felt her clothes being removed and intrusive acts performed upon her.
CCTV footage presented by the prosecution shows the 49-year-old leaving the room at approximately 8:20 pm, while his older friend departed with the woman at 3:45 am the following morning, returning her to her accommodation before requesting fresh linens upon his return to the hotel.
The alleged victim sought medical attention at Raffles Hospital the next day, suspecting she had been sexually assaulted. She was subsequently referred to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where law enforcement became involved.
In their opening statement, prosecutors emphasised, “The victim did not consent to the sexual activity with the first accused and the second accused. The accused persons cannot reasonably argue that they, in good faith, believed that the victim consented to the acts in question.”
As the trial unfolds, the 49-year-old defendant is represented by Mr Chenthil Kumarasingam, while Mr Eugene Thuraisingam stands for the 50-year-old accused.
