Police concerned by rise of molestation cases

Singapore—The Singapore Police Force reported an alarming upward trend in outrage of modesty cases over the past year.

“Outrage of modesty cases have been on an increasing trend and remain a key concern for the police,” the SPF said.

On Mon (Oct 14) alone, seven men will be charged for separate incidents of molestation. The suspects were men aged between 26 and 75 years old.

They targeted victims in various public places. The victims were all women with ages ranging from 20 to 40 years old.

The victims were molested at Orchard MRT Station and at a nearby shopping center, a Sentosa monorail station, a clinic on Tanjong Pagar Road, along Gangsa road, during a taxi ride, and inside a Serangoon residence.

The SPF suggested ways to guard against molesters which include being aware of surroundings, avoiding walking through dimly lit or secluded places, and taking a lift with a stranger.

In the case of an incident, police also advised victims to “carry a shrill alarm” and seek the immediate help of people around the vicinity.

Victims are advised to take note of the perpetrator’s prominent features and what they are wearing then report the incident to 999 as soon as possible.

Suspects convicted of outraging modesty may face two years of jail time, fined, and/or caned.

“The police will continue to work closely with stakeholders and the community to prevent and deter outrage of modesty cases,” the SPF added./TISG