24-1-2025 (SINGAPORE) A court in Singapore has handed down a 19-and-a-half year prison sentence to a 67-year-old man for sexually assaulting his daughter’s domestic worker whilst the family was abroad.
The defendant, whose identity remains protected by court order, was convicted of multiple sexual offences including two counts each of rape and molestation. He has indicated his intention to appeal both the conviction and sentencing, securing a temporary stay of execution.
The court heard that the incident occurred on 5th January 2020, when the family was overseas, leaving the victim alone with the perpetrator. Evidence presented showed the defendant invited the helper to watch television and plied her with wine and what he termed “supplement injections”.
Crown prosecutors detailed how the assailant administered these substances whilst the victim was seated on the living room sofa, before proceeding to sexually assault her. The victim, who was rendered incapacitated by the substances she had consumed, was unable to resist the attack.
Following the assault, the perpetrator carried the unconscious victim to her bedroom. Upon regaining consciousness at approximately 4am, the distressed victim immediately contacted her sister. She later reported the incident to her employers upon their return on 8th January, leading to a police report being filed the following day.
The prosecution’s case was bolstered by CCTV footage from the residence. Notably, Justice Mavis Chionh highlighted that the defendant had deliberately repositioned the bedroom camera to ensure the victim’s bed was out of frame.
During Friday’s proceedings, an unusual development emerged when Justice Chionh questioned the defendant about his use of ChatGPT for legal submissions, noting citations of non-existent case law. The judge firmly advised against using the AI tool for legal research.
In her sentencing remarks, Justice Chionh emphasised the premeditated nature of the attack and the victim’s heightened vulnerability during her eight-day isolation with the perpetrator. However, she disagreed with the prosecution’s assertion that the defendant’s lack of remorse should be considered an aggravating factor.
The defendant, who represented himself during the trial, remains free on S$80,000 bail, guaranteed by two of his daughters, pending his appeal.
Under Singapore law, the offences carried maximum penalties of 20 years’ imprisonment for rape and two years for molestation, with potential doubling of sentences due to the victim’s status as a domestic worker. The defendant avoided caning due to his age being over 50.
