A 21-year-old man was on Friday (Sep 25) sentenced to undergo 27 months of probation for using criminal force to outrage the modesty of two secondary school boys in February last year.
Aloysius Goh Jun Yuan had outraged the modesty of the 14-year-old boys by grabbing the boys’ groins on separate occasions.
The incidents took place at Tanah Merah MRT station.
The first victim was molested twice in the span of about two weeks. He lodged a police report after the second incident, and was able to identify Goh through photographs.
The second victim, who is also friends and schoolmates with the first victim, was similarly molested by Goh. The boy managed to grab Goh’s arm immediately after he had molested him, and questioned him as to why he had done so. Goh did not respond, and walked away.
After telling his teacher and parents about the incident, the second victim’s mother lodged a police report. The victim was also able to identify Goh through photographs.
In coming to an agreement with Goh’s lawyer Kalidass Murugaiyan, the prosecution said they would not object to Goh undergoing a “vigorous programme” of probation. Channel NewsAsia understands that Goh already stays at Teen Challenge (Singapore), a centre for youth-at-risk, where he is closely supervised.
District Judge Lim Keng Yeow told Goh that ordinarily, the nature of offences he had committed “should result in imprisonment”, and that probation is “an unusual sentence that will be meted out”.
In sentencing Goh to probation, Judge Lim noted that Goh had a lack of familial support and that a more structured environment would do him good. “I expect that you will comply with orders (of your probation officer) and receive treatment”, Judge Lim told Goh.
On probation, Goh will have to abide by a curfew, perform 180 hours of community service, be treated by a psychiatrist and is not allowed to possess or use any mobile device capable of downloading or running third-party applications.
His mother agreed to a S$5,000 bond to ensure her son’s good behaviour.
For using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a victim, Goh could have faced up to two years in jail, a fine, and caning.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
