Jail and caning for molesting teenager

A man who dragged a teenage girl into a toilet and molested her was jailed for nine months yesterday and ordered to be given three strokes of the cane.

Mohamad Razak Mohamad Rajab, 45, followed the 17-year- old girl, whom he did not know, and her friend to an HDB block in Hougang on Dec 4 last year.

He persuaded the friend to leave with money for beer. He then kissed the girl on the lips but she tried to avoid it by leaning back. He later asked her to go with him to a nearby block but she refused and walked off.

He then suddenly appeared in front of her and pulled her into the makeshift toilet nearby. He kissed her on the lips and unbuttoned her shirt, then pulled down her pants and touched her genital area. The court heard that the girl, who Mohamad Razak blocked from moving, did not resist strongly as she was afraid he would turn violent.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Daphne Lim said the incident took place over a prolonged period of about an hour, and the victim was traumatised. She highlighted that the benchmark punishment for similar offences was a nine-month jail term and three strokes of the cane.

Mohamad Razak, who pleaded guilty, told the court he was the sole breadwinner and had been taking care of his father since his mother's death.

District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan said a significant jail term plus caning was warranted. He noted the girl's age and how Mohamad Razak had engaged in a "prolonged and forceful intrusion" of her body.

Mohamad Razak, who has previous drug-related convictions, could have been jailed for up to two years, fined and caned for using criminal force on the girl to outrage her modesty.

pohian@sph.com.sg

This article was published on May 21 in The Straits Times.

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