LIFE seems to have come full circle for Yap Soon Soon.

Once a teenage gangster, he was hauled up for rioting and put on probation.

Then, he turned over a new leaf and became one of the top students in his polytechnic cohort.

Three years ago, Yap was a physiotherapist with a future.

Those who know him speak of his willingness to go the extra mile, his honesty and good character.

But just as he was embarking on a potentially successful career, Yap was accused of molesting a patient, in 2005.

The 29-year-old was convicted after a 20-day trial and was yesterday sentenced to 15 months' jail and six strokes of the cane.

Represented by lawyer Irving Choh from KhattarWong, the former Singapore General Hospital (SGH) physiotherapist argued that when he put his gloved finger in a female patient's private parts, he was carrying out a pelvic floor examination.

He had done so because the woman, who had been referred to the hospital for lower back pain, had complained of stress incontinence, he said.

The court heard that she had not protested at the time as she was 'shocked'.

She testified that she had not told him about suffering from stress incontinence.

There was no chaperone during the examination - a breach of hospital procedure.

Yap also did not record the examination in his case notes.

Four days after her physiotherapy session, and upon consulting her general practitioner, she filed a police report accusing Yap of molesting her.

That was in September 2005, just over three months after he graduated with a degree in physiotherapy.

After District Judge Ong Chin Rhu found Yap guilty, Mr Choh pleaded for leniency, saying that Yap was a 'dedicated healthcare personnel who continuously strives for success in life'.

His friends, former lecturers and patients submitted testimonies attesting to his 'friendly, diligent and honest' character.

Yesterday, the bespectacled young man was pale, his composure strained, as he stood in the dock for sentencing.

He is appealing against his conviction and sentence.

He is out on an increased bail of $15,000 pending the appeal.

When Yap was in Secondary 2, he joined a gang and was hauled to court for rioting.

MODEL STUDENT

But then he went from a troubled teenager to a model student, scoring four O-level distinctions in additional and elementary mathematics, biology and combined science.

And he got a place in junior college.

The Straits Times featured him on its front page on 1 Mar 1996.

In that report, he credited his then-principal and teachers at Bukit Batok Secondary School for giving him a second chance.

He said of his turnaround: 'I was on probation and couldn't go out. Also, I was very involved in learning music. I knew I needed good results as I'd wanted to become a doctor.'

He was one of the speakers at the Juvenile Court's Open Day in March 1996, where he warned students against joining gangs

Later, with 2As and 1B for his A levels, he got a place at the National University of Singapore's science faculty, but chose to go to Nanyang Polytechnic to pursue physiotherapy, he said.

He was one of the top students in his class and went on to do a degree at SIM.

The trombone player also attained diploma level in music.

He tutors school bands and plays in his community club's band.

One of his music students said: 'He is reasonable and compassionate and under his tutelage, I have improved significantly to become the section leader of the trombone section. He also makes time for section members who are eager to learn.'

But now, Yap's future hangs in the balance.

Speaking to The New Paper outside the courtroom yesterday, he said, his voice breaking: 'It's a painful mistake.'

In an earlier interview, he recalled: 'I was still bonded to SGH when the incident occurred.'

Less than three weeks later, the hospital terminated his employment. It was not easy for him at first, he recalled.

'I didn't feel like going out. I just wanted to stay at home.'

He was jobless for about five months until he turned to his music talent to earn money.

'The lucky thing is that I know how to teach music,' he said.

SUPPORT FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS

His family, girlfriend and friends have been supportive.

He is the third of four children. His mother is a baby-sitter while his father does odd jobs.

His former polytechnic lecturer has also referred to him some patients whom he attends to on a freelance basis.

He has been losing sleep over the case and suffers from depressive episodes.

' My appetite is also affected,' he said.

The incident has led him to rethink his ambitions.

'When I was a physiotherapist, I thought I could specialise in an area. I wanted to teach students and even do research.

'But now, I can't do that any more. I don't think I would want to do that.'

He has been volunteering at a nursing home, he said.

He has also got involved in direct selling and learnt 'marketing skills'.

'I am blessed that my family, lecturers, fellow physiotherapists, friends and patients have provided a lot of emotional support through this difficult period after I left SGH,' he said.

It has been a long battle, he said, adding: 'It has been very tiring.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on May 14, 2008.