Woman molested in classroom by SMU student — man sentenced to 3 strokes of cane & 10 months jail

Singapore — A Singapore Management University (SMU) student who molested a woman on campus was sentenced to three strokes of the cane and 10 months imprisonment.

After meeting the victim on Instagram in December 2018, Lee Yan Ru, now 25, scheduled a study session with her on Jan 8, 2019.

The victim was a student from another university; she is unnamed to protect her identity.

She met Lee outside SMU’s School of Economics and Social Sciences at around 1 am before heading inside a classroom.

During the trial, which started in September 2020, the victim testified against Lee, revealing he had placed his foot on her thigh several times.

Lee also groped her at around 4 am before she had to pry his fingers off, reported Straits Times.

He then stimulated himself for about two hours while kneeling over the victim, who was asleep at that time.

At around 6:30 am, the victim alerted the police.

The court heard that after the incident, Lee took out some tissue paper and wiped her.

“I did not want to leave a bad impression or make him feel bad. I didn’t want to make things hostile,” the victim said after being asked by Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Chong why she did not leave the classroom.

Health Sciences Authority’s DNA Profiling Laboratory tests showed that the tissue paper contained Lee’s body fluids, said DPP Chong.

More body fluids found on the victim’s neck and face revealed the same results.

Meanwhile, Lee told the court that he assumed the acts were consensual. He did not deny engaging in the sexual act on the victim.

He claimed that the woman was “fine” with his advances, noting she had acted “coy” with him, reported ST.

District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz said on Monday (Oct 25) that the degree of sexual exploitation in the case was high.

She added that the woman was asleep when Lee began the sexual act on her, indicating she did not give consent to it.

Lee “was fully aware (the victim) wanted him to desist,” added Judge Sharmila.

The court heard that Lee intends to appeal against his sentence. He was given bail of S$20,000.

The offence of molestation can result in a sentence of up to two years imprisonment, a fine, or caning. /TISG

Read related: Trial of two men accused of molesting male Grab driver ongoing

Trial of two men accused of molesting male Grab driver ongoing