15 years' jail, 24 strokes for raping jogger

A 47-year-old manager who went for her regular jog along the running track in Bukit Batok Neighbourhood Park was dragged into the bushes and raped one night in 2013.

Yesterday, her assailant, Sinnathamby Ramiah, 41, a steel work supervisor, was jailed for 15 years and ordered to be given 24 strokes of the cane.

The Malaysian had pleaded guilty in the High Court to one count each of aggravated rape, robbery and aggravated outrage of modesty.

Two unrelated charges - of insulting the modesty of a teenager by recording a video of her bathing in the toilet - were taken into consideration.

Sinnathamby had gone to the park on the night of Aug 4, 2013, with two cans of beer. He also had a bag containing cable ties and masking tape which he wanted to use to repair the canvas cover of his motorcycle.

He was seated near the running track and had downed one can of beer when he noticed the victim.

He found the woman, who was wearing a running tank top and shorts, attractive and became sexually aroused.

As she passed him while completing her final round, he grabbed her from behind and used two cable ties over her head and torso to restrain her.

He then dragged her off the track and into the trees and bushes surrounding the park. As she was dragged, one of her shoes came off, causing her heel to suffer abrasions.

Sinnathamby pulled her downhill to a secluded spot where he pinned her down and told her that she looked sexy.

She begged him to let her go home to her child but he threatened her, told her not to shout and said it would be over soon.

After raping her, he took her iPhone and left the scene.

Her daughter called the police after finding out what had happened.

Sinnathamby's identity was later established when he tried to access the iPhone.

In a victim impact statement read in court, the woman said the incident changed her perspective about the safety of Singapore. Now, she does not dare to walk alone at night, feels scared while waiting for the lift and has nightmares of someone grabbing her.

"I used to think Singapore is a very safe place and such things would not happen here."

This article was first published on Jan 10, 2015.
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