13-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) A distressing incident unfolded in a serviced apartment compound where a South Korean engineer attempted to rape his inebriated neighbour, a 25-year-old exchange student from Sweden, as she slept by the pool.
Cho Tae-kwon, aged 51, faced justice on May 13, receiving a sentence of eight years and 4½ months in jail after pleading guilty to attempted rape and outrage of modesty charges. Additional charges for molesting the victim were considered during sentencing.
Cho’s inability to undergo caning, owing to his age surpassing 50, was factored into his sentence. His visit to Singapore in June 2022 on a short-term social pass coincided with his employment as an engineer at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre.
A gag order was imposed to shield the identities of both the victim and her associates, as well as the precise location of the crime. The victim and Cho were strangers, residing on different floors of the apartment complex.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Claire Poh and Natalie Chu condemned the violation of the victim’s safety and security, highlighting the tragic breach of trust in a supposedly secure environment.
The incident occurred in the early hours of September 10, 2022, following a gathering at Cho’s colleagues’ apartment. Returning to his unit around 12:30 am, Cho encountered the victim, who had just returned from a night out with friends.
Surveillance footage captured Cho’s actions as he approached the pool area shortly after 4:25 am, where the victim lay asleep. Taking advantage of her vulnerable state, Cho initiated unwanted advances, progressing to attempted rape.
Despite the victim’s groggy state, she managed to resist, prompting a scuffle that eventually led to her escape from the pool area with Cho’s shorts. Cho, unsuccessful in his pursuit, returned to his unit, while the victim, upon waking, reported the assault to authorities with the aid of her flatmates and the guest service officer.
