9 years' jail for attack at welfare home

A 46-year-old man was sentenced to nine years' preventive detention yesterday for sodomising a resident of a welfare home without his consent and attacking two people working there.

Hoe Chay Eng pleaded guilty to two offences under the Destitute Persons Act and one count of sexual penetration.

Hoe, who has an antisocial personality disorder and mild intellectual disability, had been in and out of prison since 1989 for offences such as theft and outrage of modesty.

On Oct 27 last year, he hit Aetos officer Davindran Mohan, 23, who was attached to the home, twice on the head with a thermos mug.

Hoe sodomised the resident - who has mild mental retardation - on Dec 12 that year. Fifteen days later, he swung a bed frame at the home's care executive officer.

MSF MEASURES

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) told The New Paper that measures are in place at the home to ensure the safety and welfare of its residents.

For example, the home engages auxiliary police officers to maintain security and order. CCTVs are also in place to detect any unusual movements and activities.

The MSF spokesman said: "Social workers interact with and counsel the residents regularly, and pay particular attention to signs of distress or unstable and aggressive behaviour.

"Vulnerable residents such as persons with lower intellectual functioning are typically located in dormitories nearer to staff, to allow for closer supervision."

This article was first published on August 29, 2015.
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