18 months' jail for man who molested 3 women

Two were going home after a night out, and another had earlier alighted from her company vehicle.

All three women were molested by interior designer Lee Yok Kok in the wee hours around Serangoon Central in separate incidents between 2011 and 2013.

The 39-year-old Malaysian was sentenced to 18 months' jail yesterday after pleading guilty to four charges of using criminal force to outrage the women's modesty.

He was spared caning as a psychiatric report shows that he was suffering from major depression.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Lydia Goh said a 24-year-old woman had returned from a drinking session at about 3.25am on Nov 30, 2013, when Lee followed her into the lift of a block in Serangoon Central Drive.

The victim started to walk out when the lift door opened at the fifth floor, but Lee grabbed her left butt cheek from behind. She turned to stare at him but did not confront him further.

Surprised that she did not react, Lee followed her out of the lift and touched her chest before running off.

On Sept 10, 2011, Lee followed a 22-year-old woman into a lift after she returned home from clubbing.

When the lift doors reached the ninth floor, he groped her. She screamed and he let go of her immediately.

The victim exited the lift and shouted for help. She kept the lift door open to stop Lee from getting away. He pushed her hand away from the door, and the lift went up to the 12th floor.

On May 5 that year, a 23-year-old Malaysian woman who took her company transport home alighted in Serangoon Central around 3.50am.

Lee was walking in the opposite direction at the void deck of Block 209 when he suddenly turned and molested her.

Lee, who will start his sentence on July 3, could have been jailed for up to two years, fined, caned or received any combined punishment.

elena@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on June 13, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.