A 26-year-old man was arrested last week for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl while wearing the dress. The man, known as Soh, has a prior criminal record, having been jailed four years ago for exposing his private parts and for criminal intimidation in 2014. He had also violated a Remission Order.

Soh reportedly sexually harassed the 14-year-old girl along Toa Payoh Lorong 3 last Wednesday evening around 10pm and allegedly touched the girl’s hair, eyebrows and lips – all the while wearing a strapless black dress and carrying a red purse. He reportedly tried to befriend the victim and asked her sexual questions.

The girl’s father made a police report the very next day, on 31 May, after the victim shared what had happened with him. Officers from the Tanglin Police Division apprehended Soh on 1 June and he was charged in court with outrage of modesty the next day.

According to the Chinese daily, Soh comes from a troubled family background. Soh’s stepfather reportedly served time for drug offences while his younger brother was sent to the Boys’ Home after committing arson, in the past.

Soh’s elder brother, Soh Wee Kian, is presently serving life imprisonment for the culpable homicide of a 32-year-old mother of two in September 2010. Soh Wee Kian stabbed the victim, Ms Hoe Hong Lin, to death on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival near her home in Woodlands.

The accused will return to court on 14 June and may face up to two years in jail, a fine, and/or caning, if convicted.