30-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) Ler Chun Poh, a 43-year-old taxi driver, was found guilty on Monday (Oct 30) of three counts of molestation, following allegations of molesting a 17-year-old girl who was offered a free ride.
The judge delivered the verdict, stating that he accepted the victim’s testimony and deemed the prosecution successful in proving its case. Ler’s claims of mere denial were dismissed by the judge, who described him as an “untruthful, evasive and uncooperative witness.”
According to court proceedings, Ler, also known as Lu Junbao, encountered the victim alone around 11:40 PM on October 29, 2021. She was at a bus stop near Block 486, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5, searching for a BlueSG rental car driven by her boyfriend earlier that night, as she believed she had left her phone inside it.
Spotting the distressed girl, Ler halted his taxi and approached her, offering a complimentary ride despite being aware of her financial constraints. Although she had not signaled for a taxi, the victim accepted the ride due to her growing concern over the lost phone. She occupied the front passenger seat, a habit she had formed while riding in taxis with her family.
In an attempt to arrange payment, she requested Ler’s mobile number to ask her mother for a money transfer. However, Ler declined the request. During the journey, an alert sounded, indicating that the victim had not fastened her seatbelt.
As she reached for the seatbelt, Ler extended his hand to assist her. According to the victim’s testimony, Ler’s hand made forceful contact with her chest, which caught her off guard. She had received no prior indication that he would grasp the seatbelt or reach towards her. Despite feeling shocked by the incident, she remained silent.
When they arrived at a nearby car park, the girl disembarked and began searching for the BlueSG cars parked there, while Ler waited in his taxi. Failing to find her phone, she returned to the taxi, where Ler offered to drop her off somewhere nearby. Feeling uneasy, she initially declined, but he insisted. No other individuals were present in the vicinity.
Eventually, she reluctantly reentered the taxi, her mind consumed by the desperate need to locate her phone. Although there was no seatbelt reminder this time, she proceeded to fasten her seatbelt, prompting Ler to once again extend his hand. During the process of fastening the belt, he molested her without any forewarning.
The victim experienced another shock, but managed to maintain her composure until they reached her intended destination. As she began unbuckling her seatbelt, Ler took advantage of the situation to molest her once more under the pretense of assisting her. Swiftly alighting from the vehicle, the victim expressed her gratitude to Ler before approaching a group of strangers for assistance in borrowing a phone.
She contacted her boyfriend and proceeded to wait for him at another set of parking lots designated for BlueSG cars. Subsequently, she informed her boyfriend that she had been molested by the taxi driver and promptly reported the incident to the police.
During the trial, Ler vehemently denied the charges, asserting that the victim had willingly entered his taxi, suggesting that the alleged molestations were accidental rather than intentional. In cross-examination, he posed questions to the victim, insinuating that she had created a favorable opportunity for molestation and inquired if she believed such acts required an emotional connection.
District Judge Soh Tze Bian categorically rejected Ler’s testimony during the trial. Ler is scheduled to appear in court next month for the sentencing and mitigation phase.
